Doncic leads strong close by Mavericks for 108-105 win over Wolves in Game 1 of West finals
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Luka Doncic led a strong finish for the Dallas Mavericks, swishing crucial shots down the stretch, drawing a couple of fouls and even playing strong defense.
The Mavericks might not be the favorites in yet another series, but they stole home-court advantage from the Minnesota Timberwolves with this promising start.
Doncic had 15 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter and Kyrie Irving scored 24 of his 30 in the first half to lift the Mavericks to a 108-105 victory over the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Wednesday night.
Dallas had a 62-38 advantage in points in the paint to offset a 6-for-25 shooting performance from deep.
“We made important ones,” said Doncic, who scored seven straight points over 63 seconds early in the fourth quarter to fuel a 13-0 run by the Mavericks for a 97-89 lead.
The Mavericks trailed 102-98 after a 3-pointer by Anthony Edwards with 3:37 left, before an 8-0 run the Wolves didn't stop until a tip-in with 10.5 seconds to go. For the first time in six tries under coach Jason Kidd, the Mavericks won the first game of a playoff series.
Jaden McDaniels had his third straight 20-plus-point game with 24 points for the Wolves, but Edwards - who earned his first All-NBA selection prior to the game, on the second team - was stifled for 19 points in a team effort from the Mavericks. Karl-Anthony Towns needed a late burst to get to 16 points and finished 6 for 20 from the floor.
The star power in this series is strong, and for the first night at least the Mavericks got what they needed from their leading duo while the Wolves largely struggled to run the offense around theirs.
“Terrible offense down the stretch: bad shots, turnovers, no composure,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said. “We've got to be better in clutch moments.”
Towns came to life with a long jumper, a lob to Rudy Gobert for a slam and a 3-pointer on a 2-minute burst to give the Wolves the lead back with 4:39 to go on the way to a 10-0 run that Doncic ended with a 3-pointer. P.J. Washington, who had 13 points and seven rebounds, hit from deep to put the Mavericks back in front with 1:56 to go.
Towns thought he tied the game with a putback dunk on the next possession, but that was waved off for basket interference.
Minnesota hosts Game 2 on Friday night.
Edwards, who went scoreless in the third quarter, added 11 rebounds and eight assists.
“He’s an amazing player. We have to put multiple bodies on him,” Doncic said. “If he’s going 1-on-1, it’s kind of tough to stop him.”
Naz Reid had 15 points and Kyle Anderson added 11 points off the bench for the Wolves, who had two days off after dethroning defending champion Denver with a Game 7 comeback from a 20-point deficit to win the second-round series.
The transition was sharp from the Nuggets and NBA MVP Nikola Jokic’s deliberate and powerful style to the pick-and-roll-heavy Mavericks, who frequently lost their opponents off screens for wide-open dunks. They moved with a purpose that kept the Wolves from consistently setting their half-court defense around the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Gobert at the rim.
Irving’s stunning burst on the break and on the drive presented a unique challenge the Wolves and their league-leading defense didn’t face in the last round, when they held the Nuggets to an average of 85 points over their four wins.
“He got us going. Without him, we would probably be down 20 at halftime,” Doncic said. “I had to help him in the second half a little bit. So we switched roles this time.”
McDaniels, who played his usual relentless defense on the perimeter, was the catalyst on the other end of the court too with five 3-pointers in the first half, but Towns had trouble getting shots to fall and Edwards found his driving lanes constantly clogged.
“Jaden was the only one that came ready to play tonight,” Edwards said, “and I think everyone else let him down.”
The Mavericks have cranked up their defense since adding Daniel Gafford and Washington at the trade deadline, as top-seeded Oklahoma City can attest after losing in six games in the last round. Doncic chipped in, too, breaking up a lob from Mike Conley to Gobert for one of his three steals with 1:06 remaining and the Mavericks leading by two.
“No one panicked. There was just a lot of trust, no matter how bad or how good we’re playing,” Kidd said.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Daniel Gafford vs. Rudy Gobert (Jaden McDaniels gains possession) | |||
11:44 | Kyrie Irving personal foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | |||
11:34 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | |||
11:31 | Daniel Gafford defensive rebound | |||
11:11 | Luka Doncic misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
11:08 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
10:54 | Daniel Gafford blocks Rudy Gobert's two point driving layup | |||
10:53 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
10:49 | P.J. Washington blocks Karl-Anthony Towns's two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
10:46 | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | |||
10:37 | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point driving floating jump shot | 2-0 | |
10:09 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving finger roll layup (Anthony Edwards assists) | 2-2 | |
9:59 | P.J. Washington misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:57 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
9:51 | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point pullup jump shot | 2-4 | |
9:29 | Luka Doncic misses two point fadeaway bank jump shot | |||
9:26 | Daniel Gafford offensive rebound | |||
9:24 | Derrick Jones Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
9:21 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
9:16 | +2 | Mike Conley makes two point running finger roll layup | 2-6 | |
9:00 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 4-6 | |
8:45 | Anthony Edwards misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
8:42 | Daniel Gafford defensive rebound | |||
8:34 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point floating jump shot (Derrick Jones Jr. assists) | 6-6 | |
8:16 | +3 | Jaden McDaniels makes three point jump shot (Mike Conley assists) | 6-9 | |
8:04 | Kyrie Irving misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
7:59 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
7:55 | +3 | Jaden McDaniels makes three point running jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 6-12 | |
7:39 | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point stepback jump shot | 8-12 | |
7:23 | Mike Conley misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
7:19 | Daniel Gafford defensive rebound | |||
7:07 | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | |||
7:04 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
6:54 | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | |||
6:44 | +3 | Jaden McDaniels makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 8-15 | |
6:17 | Kyrie Irving misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
6:14 | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | |||
6:04 | Dereck Lively II shooting foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | |||
6:04 | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 8-16 | |
6:04 | Rudy Gobert misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
6:02 | Josh Green defensive rebound | |||
5:51 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point driving floating jump shot | 10-16 | |
5:38 | Mike Conley misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
5:36 | Dereck Lively II defensive rebound | |||
5:30 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point jump shot (Jaden Hardy assists) | 12-16 | |
5:13 | Jaden Hardy shooting foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | |||
5:13 | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-17 | |
5:13 | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-18 | |
4:54 | Josh Green misses two point jump shot | |||
4:52 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
4:49 | +3 | Anthony Edwards makes three point running pullup jump shot | 12-21 | |
4:36 | +3 | P.J. Washington makes three point jump shot (Jaden Hardy assists) | 15-21 | |
4:36 | Rudy Gobert personal foul (Loose ball) (Dereck Lively II draws the foul) | |||
4:36 | +1 | Dereck Lively II makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 16-21 | |
4:16 | Anthony Edwards turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
4:06 | Karl-Anthony Towns personal foul (Jaden Hardy draws the foul) | |||
3:57 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point driving finger roll layup (Dereck Lively II assists) | 18-21 | |
3:39 | Naz Reid misses two point driving hook shot | |||
3:37 | P.J. Washington defensive rebound | |||
3:29 | P.J. Washington turnover (back court violation) | |||
3:17 | Kyle Anderson misses three point jump shot | |||
3:15 | Dereck Lively II defensive rebound | |||
3:07 | +2 | Jaden Hardy makes two point driving layup | 20-21 | |
2:57 | Dereck Lively II blocks Karl-Anthony Towns's two point driving floating jump shot | |||
2:54 | Dereck Lively II defensive rebound | |||
2:50 | Kyrie Irving misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
2:47 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
2:32 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | |||
2:29 | P.J. Washington defensive rebound | |||
2:24 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point driving finger roll layup (Jaden Hardy assists) | 22-21 | |
2:24 | Naz Reid shooting foul (Kyrie Irving draws the foul) | |||
2:24 | Mavericks 60 second timeout | |||
2:24 | +1 | Kyrie Irving makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 23-21 | |
2:08 | +2 | Kyle Anderson makes two point driving floating jump shot (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists) | 23-23 | |
1:51 | +2 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes two point cutting dunk (Luka Doncic assists) | 25-23 | |
1:37 | +3 | Kyle Anderson makes three point jump shot (Naz Reid assists) | 25-26 | |
1:20 | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point driving layup | 27-26 | |
1:02 | +2 | Kyle Anderson makes two point pullup jump shot | 27-28 | |
0:52 | Kyle Anderson personal foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | |||
0:38 | Jaden Hardy misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
0:35 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
0:31 | +2 | Naz Reid makes two point running layup (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists) | 27-30 | |
0:28 | Luka Doncic turnover (lost ball) (Naz Reid steals) | |||
0:10 | +3 | Anthony Edwards makes three point pullup jump shot | 27-33 | |
0:00 | Luka Doncic misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:00 | Mavericks offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:45 | +3 | Luka Doncic makes three point pullup jump shot | 30-33 | |
11:23 | +3 | Jaden McDaniels makes three point jump shot (Rudy Gobert assists) | 30-36 | |
11:08 | Luka Doncic turnover (bad pass) (Mike Conley steals) | |||
11:02 | Daniel Gafford shooting foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | |||
11:02 | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-37 | |
11:02 | Rudy Gobert misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
11:00 | Tim Hardaway Jr. defensive rebound | |||
10:50 | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point cutting dunk (Luka Doncic assists) | 32-37 | |
10:40 | Naz Reid turnover (lost ball) (Luka Doncic steals) | |||
10:30 | Luka Doncic misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
10:26 | Daniel Gafford offensive rebound | |||
10:16 | Daniel Gafford misses two point bank jump shot | |||
10:15 | Jaden McDaniels defensive rebound | |||
10:06 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses three point jump shot | |||
10:06 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
10:02 | Derrick Jones Jr. personal foul (Mike Conley draws the foul) | |||
9:50 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:46 | Tim Hardaway Jr. defensive rebound | |||
9:33 | Luka Doncic misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
9:30 | Naz Reid defensive rebound | |||
9:21 | Jaden McDaniels offensive foul (Charge) (Dante Exum draws the foul) | |||
9:21 | Jaden McDaniels turnover (offensive foul) | |||
9:04 | Jump ball. Mike Conley vs. Daniel Gafford (Jaden McDaniels gains possession) | |||
9:03 | Daniel Gafford turnover (lost ball) (Mike Conley steals) | |||
8:59 | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point driving finger roll layup | 32-39 | |
8:57 | Mavericks 60 second timeout | |||
8:41 | P.J. Washington turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
8:28 | Dereck Lively II technical foul (Defensive three second) | |||
8:28 | Mike Conley misses technical free throw 1 of 1 | |||
8:28 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
8:20 | Jaden McDaniels misses three point jump shot | |||
8:17 | Tim Hardaway Jr. defensive rebound | |||
8:10 | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | |||
8:08 | Jaden McDaniels defensive rebound | |||
7:56 | P.J. Washington personal foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | |||
7:47 | +2 | Kyle Anderson makes two point floating jump shot (Jaden McDaniels assists) | 32-41 | |
7:32 | Luka Doncic misses three point jump shot | |||
7:28 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
7:11 | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | |||
7:09 | Dereck Lively II defensive rebound | |||
7:03 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point running finger roll layup | 34-41 | |
6:47 | Anthony Edwards misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
6:44 | P.J. Washington defensive rebound | |||
6:32 | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point pullup bank jump shot | 36-41 | |
6:32 | Anthony Edwards shooting foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | |||
6:32 | +1 | Luka Doncic makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 37-41 | |
6:11 | +2 | Kyle Anderson makes two point pullup jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 37-43 | |
5:59 | +2 | Dereck Lively II makes two point driving reverse layup (Luka Doncic assists) | 39-43 | |
5:44 | Anthony Edwards misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
5:39 | Kyrie Irving defensive rebound | |||
5:30 | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point driving finger roll layup | 41-43 | |
5:30 | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | |||
5:22 | Luka Doncic kicked ball violation | |||
5:16 | +3 | Naz Reid makes three point jump shot (Kyle Anderson assists) | 41-46 | |
4:58 | Derrick Jones Jr. misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
4:54 | Derrick Jones Jr. offensive rebound | |||
4:48 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point driving floating jump shot | 43-46 | |
4:33 | +3 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes three point jump shot (Kyle Anderson assists) | 43-49 | |
4:12 | +2 | Dereck Lively II makes two point dunk (Luka Doncic assists) | 45-49 | |
3:56 | Dereck Lively II blocks Karl-Anthony Towns's two point driving layup | |||
3:54 | Karl-Anthony Towns offensive rebound | |||
3:53 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses two point layup | |||
3:51 | Dereck Lively II defensive rebound | |||
3:43 | Kyrie Irving turnover (bad pass) (Jaden McDaniels steals) | |||
3:37 | Naz Reid misses three point running jump shot | |||
3:34 | Dereck Lively II defensive rebound | |||
3:24 | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | |||
3:21 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
3:03 | +3 | Jaden McDaniels makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 45-52 | |
2:48 | Luka Doncic misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
2:45 | Dereck Lively II offensive rebound | |||
2:43 | Luka Doncic misses three point jump shot | |||
2:40 |