With three seconds remaining and Rudy Gobert defending him at the top of the key, Luka Doncic hit the game-winning three-pointer to give the Dallas Mavericks a 109-108 victory and a 2-0 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals on Friday night.
The Mavericks overcame an 18-point hole that existed late in the second quarter and were still down 16 halfway through the third quarter thanks to Doncic’s 32 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds, his ninth triple-double in 42 career playoff games.
After another bad night by players Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, Wolves go to Dallas for Game 3 on Sunday with a major hole after Naz Reid shot 7-for-9 from 3-point shooting for 23 points.
With 1:05 remaining, Kyrie Irving made a corner 3-pointer to bring the Mavericks within two. Irving scored 13 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter. The Wolves then sandwiched mistakes around a Doncic short miss. Thirteen seconds remained when Edwards carelessly sent the ball out of bounds on a drive, giving the Mavericks the ball and the opportunity to win.
The Wolves switched after Doncic received the inbounds pass and dribbled to set up a screen by Dereck Lively II. Defensive Player of the Year Gobert stayed out on the top of the key while NBA All-Defensive second team choice Jaden McDaniels dropped with Lively’s roll.
Doncic’s teammates surrounded him as he flexed his arms and roared at the astonished audience after the swish.
Up until Edwards, who had 21 points but is shooting 11-for-33 in the series, made two free throws for a 108-103 advantage, the lead for each side was three points or fewer from 10:50 left to 1:29. That happened just after Irving missed both foul throws, which had the fans yell in celebration of the free Chick-fil-A sandwich offer.
For the Wolves, who really needed Reid, the NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Mike Conley scored 18 points and Gobert had 16 points and 10 rebounds. Just after the Mavericks sharply reduced the distance with a 21-7 run, mostly as Conley rested, during a 6:36 span, his top-of-the-key swish at the conclusion of the third quarter gave the Wolves an 86-79 edge.
Irving, who had scored 24 of his 30 points in Game 1 before to halftime, had just five points in the first half. But he capped an 8-0 run that began the fourth quarter and made it 87-86.
Doncic has been battling through what the Mavericks have reported on the league’s official medical report as a sprained right knee and left ankle pain. He thrived in the fourth quarter of Game 1 to finish with 33 points.
Following his late first-quarter substitution, Doncic sprinted directly to the locker room before coming back to the bench to start his second shift. Doncic was groaning and hobbling on his way back after sprinting the court late in the second quarter for a fast break layup. He made five of fourteen shots before intermission.
Doncic’s game has the charm in that he can dominate without much of a full-strength spring in his stride. His laser-like passing had Minnesota’s league-leading defense looking out of sorts on a lot of possessions.
The coaching staff blasted the Wolves for their effort and performance in between games, but they maintained their reputation as a formidable comeback squad from the few occasions this season they have faltered. Every time he started, Conley had the offense moving quickly and deftly.
But when he wasn’t, the Wolves often spiraled out of control. Edwards didn’t seem to have much of a strategy when he got the ball and forced a number of shots. The prior three games McDaniels had scored more than 20 points, but he didn’t score until the middle of the third quarter.
The Wolves were devoured in the paint, so Towns and Gobert played particularly aggressively on offense early on, but they were still exposed on defense as the Mavericks continued to lob Daniel Gafford (16 points) and Lively (14 points) for easy baskets.
Towns finished with 15 points on 4-of-16 shooting and was replaced by Reid.
