Mavericks complete comeback to stun Wolves 109-108

Luka Doncic’s triple-double and game-winning three put Dallas in the driver’s seat

After Dallas chipped away at a substantial Minnesota Timberwolves lead throughout the second half, Luka Doncic ended the game with a stepback three to help Dallas take a commanding 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals. In a reversal of Game 1, it was Doncic who carried Dallas in the first quarter (well, all of it), while the team received a storm surge from Kyrie Irving to start the final period, and the tandem ended the game on a 6-0 run to defeat the Wolves.

Minnesota borrowed heavily from the Mavericks’ script from game 1 as they assisted on 13 of their first 16 baskets (26 assists on 35 field goals for the game) to take what it thought was a big enough advantage in the first half. Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid (23 points and 2 steals) led the team in scoring in the loss. Anthony Edwards (21 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists), Mike Conley (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists), Karl-Anthony Towns (15 points and 7 rebounds), and Rudy Gobert (16 points and 10 rebounds) had an outstanding start undone by the Mavericks’ finish, while getting an offensive no-show from Jaden McDaniels.

Luka Doncic (32 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds) gutted out 41 minutes, was a singular force in the first half, and then received reinforcements in the second half in a hailstorm of dunks from Daniel Gafford (16 points and 5 blocks) and Dereck Lively (16 points and 9 rebounds) with Kyric Irving (20 points and 6 assists) finding his way later in the game. Dallas’ (REALLY) big three combined for 40 points, 19 rebounds, and 7 blocks. They received heady guard play off the bench from Jaden Hardy (8 points) and Josh Green (5 points and 2 steals).

The gimpy Doncic struggled to amble up and down the court from the tip. Minnesota went after him and teammates to put the Mavericks into the bonus and gain some helpful freebies. Doncic drew Towns’ second foul, which necessitated a Reid substitution. Reid immediately hit a corner three. With his shot not falling, Edwards turned facilitator and found Gobert down below for a dunk to make it 21-17. Reid’s second corner three put the Wolves up six. In one of the more entertaining quarters in a postseason teeming full of them, Minnesota left the first up six.

The second quarter for the Wolves was the Towns (inside) and Conley (outside) show, which spurred them to go up by 15 quickly. Doncic appeared to buckled for several moments under the intense pressure. Edwards’ straightaway three put Minnesota up 18. Dallas’ bigs came through again to help shave the deficit to a manageable dozen at the half.

Doncic stomped his footprint onto the game with a highly productive third, while, despite the TNT analysts imploring him to take over for his side, Edwards struggled to counter. Towns tried to help keep the Wolves’ momentum going, but faded, as well. Green and Hardy’s confident threes brought Dallas within two and the murmurs increased in the nervous crowd. The Mavericks went into the fourth down seven.

Observations

• This series is so much fun to watch.
• My first thought tonight – When was the last time a West finals had both teams in the Central time zone – HOU/SAS in 1995?
• If Chris Paul goes to San Antonio… <Arthur clenched fist>
• 2024 Reid == 2005 Robert Horry?
• As Lively shot his free throw in the second period, TNT flashed a graphic showing the top +/- by NBA rookies, and none other than our Manu Ginobili topped the list with a whopping +191! This was more than Lively’s (106) and Chet Holmgren’s (75) combined!
• I am slightly ashamed to say I watched this video of Kyle Anderson practicing threes several times.
• After Dallas’ bucket on the FIRST POSSESSION, Chris Finch called a Pop-worthy timeout because Conley’s teammates ran down the court and LEFT HIM NO ONE TO INBOUNDS TO. The total distance from the basket of Gafford’s first two buckets – about 2.47 feet. Edwards and Towns attacked the basket with ferocity to draw fouls. Towns’ and-1 gave Minnesota a three point lead, and incredibly put Dallas in the foul bonus only 4.5 minutes in. Gobert’s third dunk was matched by a Jaden Hardy three. Edwards’ first three allowed the Wolves to exit the first up 32-26.
• Reid’s wing three and Towns’ driving layup ignited the Wolves to start the second period. The ultra aggressive Towns helped maintain the Mavericks’ deficit. Threes rained down from Conley and Towns pushed the Minnesota lead to 15. PJ Washington’s points salvaged what looked like the makings of a blowout, as his team could not buy a basket. Gobert incredibly committed a take foul on Doncic with his team up 55-37. Conley drew an offensive foul on a Irving leg-kick. Minnesota went into the break comfortably up 60-48.
• Though the lead remained above a dozen for a good chunk of the third period, Doncic scored or assisted on the bulk of Dallas’ actions over much of the frame. A stepback three and floater from Doncic trimmed the deficit to six. Edwards seemed slightly cowed or intimidated by the moment as he had a sloppy third period again. Outside of Town’s early offense in the stanza, Minnesota struggled until Reid’s last-second three put them up 86-79.
• Irving woke up from a stupor and his flurry of three-pointers to start the fourth nudged Dallas into the lead in moments. Reid continued his best shooting effort of the playoff run with a pair of threes. Gafford followed his fifth block on Conley with an insane catch in transition and an acrobatic layup. Edwards’ soaring lay-up put Minnesota back up three. Irving fumbled a gather on his dribble and still found Lively for an awkward lob.
• In the final minutes and with Towns absent (presumably to keep Reid and his hot touch in), Edwards continued to drive into the paint to force Dallas’ hand. After Irving’s two missed free throws, Edwards hit his freebies to give the Wolves a five point lead. Despite evidence that Irving hacked McDaniels’ hand, the officials overturned the call and ceded possession back to Dallas instead of Minnesota. The Mavericks’ 6-0 finish consisted of an Irving corner three, and then that final stunning bucket. After Edwards threw the ball out of bounds (instead of sticking his sweet jumper), Doncic was more than happy to oblige at the other end over the four-time Defensive Player of the Year. On the final possession, Edwards again deferred and Reid missed his attempt.

Game 3 of the Western Conference finals shifts to Dallas for Game 3 on Sunday night at 7:00 PM CDT.