Luka Doncic nailed the game-winning shot with just 3 seconds left.
The Dallas Mavericks stunned the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 109-108 victory, overcoming an 18-point deficit to win on a Luka Doncic step-back three-pointer with three seconds remaining. Doncic led the Mavericks with a triple-double, scoring 32 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out 13 assists. Naz Reid came off the bench to lead the Timberwolves with 23 points in the loss. The Mavericks now hold a commanding 2-0 series lead as the teams head to Dallas.
Minnesota started strong, quickly putting Dallas in foul trouble within the first five minutes. Anthony Edwards attacked the paint aggressively, while Doncic kept Dallas competitive with a pair of early three-pointers. Karl-Anthony Towns' two fouls in one possession brought in Naz Reid, who hit two threes in the first quarter. Bench contributions from Derrick Lively and Jaden Hardy kept the game close, despite Dallas's offensive struggles. The Mavericks ended the first quarter trailing 32-26.
Dallas's defense and rebounding faltered early in the second quarter, allowing Minnesota to build a 12-point lead. Towns dominated with post-ups, and Reid's fourth three-pointer extended the Wolves' lead to 15, prompting a Dallas timeout. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd experimented with backup guards Dante Exum and Tim Hardaway Jr., but neither made significant contributions. An 8-2 run by Dallas in the final three minutes of the half closed the gap slightly, with the Mavericks trailing 60-48 at halftime.
Mental mistakes hampered Dallas at the start of the second half, allowing Minnesota to extend their lead to 16. Doncic's look-away passes to Lively and a step-back three over McDaniels cut the lead to single digits. A Josh Green three-pointer and Hardy's contributions off the bench reduced the deficit to two points. However, a late three by Reid pushed Minnesota's lead back to seven, with Dallas trailing 86-79 entering the final quarter.
Kyrie Irving hit his first three of the series to spark Dallas in the fourth quarter. Another Kyrie three-pointer and a Washington post score gave the Mavericks their first lead since the first quarter. The teams traded baskets, with Reid's sixth and seventh three-pointers keeping Minnesota ahead with 6:36 remaining. The back-and-forth continued, with Gafford scoring on consecutive possessions and blocking a shot in between. After a Jones Jr. turnover, the Wolves took a three-point lead, but Dallas remained within one on multiple possessions. The Mavericks reclaimed the lead around the three-minute mark, but the Wolves quickly responded and secured a rebound after two Maverick misses. Irving missed two free throws, and Edwards hit both, then connected on a corner three on the next possession.
With Dallas down 108-106, the Mavericks had two chances to tie or take the lead. Doncic missed the first attempt, but an Edwards turnover gave Dallas another opportunity. With 12 seconds left, Doncic received the inbounds pass, switched onto Gobert, and drilled his only three-pointer of the fourth quarter. Naz Reid missed a potential game-winner, sealing Dallas's 109-108 win and a 2-0 series lead over the Timberwolves.
The Best Backcourt in the NBA
I’ve started and deleted about 300 words on Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. It's hard to find the right words to describe these two magicians. As the fourth quarter began, I was confident Kyrie Irving would rise to the occasion. He did, sinking four clutch threes and playing stellar defense on Anthony Edwards. Luka Doncic missed his other two shots in the fourth quarter, but when he received the inbounds pass with 12 seconds left, I knew he would deliver something spectacular. And he did.
Individually, these two are incredible. Together, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are extraordinary. They make you feel like Dallas is unbeatable.
Young Bench Players Stepping Up
Throughout these playoffs, Jason Kidd has relied on his bench to give Irving and Doncic crucial rest. Various players have risen to the occasion at different times, providing just enough support to push Dallas forward. In the second half of a critical road game, Jaden Hardy and Josh Green made significant contributions to help secure the win.
Green struggled in Game 1, making mistakes that could have cost Dallas dearly. However, he redeemed himself by hitting a crucial three-pointer late in the game, crashing the boards, and making smart passes. His efforts led the Mavericks in plus-minus with a +15.
Jaden Hardy is always an adventure. He nailed an impressive three-pointer in the first quarter and took that as a signal to attempt four more shots before the quarter ended. Given another chance in the second half, Hardy made the right reads and hit another vital three-pointer as Dallas fought to get back into the game. Hardy's ability to maximize his minutes showcases his confidence, which Dallas will need if they aim to advance to the NBA Finals.
The Center of It All
In a series featuring a front court with a Defensive Player of the Year, an All-Star, and an All-Defensive team player, it's the Dallas Mavericks' front court that's making the difference.
While essentially matching the Timberwolves statistically, Dereck Lively and Daniel Gafford have been pivotal through the first two games of this Western Conference Finals. It's hard to pinpoint a single standout play, but Gafford has regained his regular season confidence, looking like he can make every shot. Meanwhile, Lively is proving to be the steal of the 2023 NBA Draft.
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