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Mavericks vs. Timberwolves Game 2 score: Luka Doncic seems unstoppable, while Anthony Edwards looks fatigued

The Dallas Mavericks have a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals after a 109-108 Game 2 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, punctuated by Luka Doncic's game-winning step-back 3-pointer over Rudy Gobert with three seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The Timberwolves led by as many as 18 points before Dallas launched a massive second-half comeback.

In total, Doncic dropped 32 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. He was aided by Kyrie Irving's 20 points, who went 4 for 7 from 3-point range. The series now shifts to Dallas for Game 3, which is set for Sunday.

Minnesota seemed to run out of gas after halftime, with Anthony Edwards scoring just eight of his 21 points in the second half. Karl-Anthony Towns was a non-factor offensively, scoring 15 points on 4-for-16 shooting. He was benched down the stretch, partly because of his subpar play, but also because Naz Reid was scorching hot, going 7-for-9 from 3-point range en route to 23 points. He was unable to hit the biggest shot of the night, however, as his potential game-winning 3-pointer rimmed out as the buzzer sounded.

Here are a few takeaways from Friday's Game 2.

What to do with Luka?

There's going to be a lot of discussion about Doncic's game-winner, specifically as to why Gobert was in the game if the Wolves planned on switching all screens. The scheme allowed Doncic to get a one-on-one matchup with the seven-footer, and we all saw how it played out. Doncic felt no intimidation from the four-time Defensive Player of the Year, making what amounts to a practice shot for him under the most pressurized of circumstances -- accompanied by some choice expletives.

After the game, Doncic was asked if he was surprised the Wolves elected to switch on the play.

"I was, a little bit, yeah, actually," Doncic said. "I think they were going like, just no 3s. So, he tried to stay up. But I saw the space, and get to my spot. ... I mean, he's long enough. He can't move -- I can't move fast, but I can move faster than him."

It's easy to say that the Wolves should have trapped Doncic off of the screen, or that Gobert shouldn't have been in the game at all for that possession, but they were throwing different looks at Doncic all night with little success. When the blitz came, Doncic patiently waited for the right cut or open 3-pointer, then executed pinpoint passes.

When Gobert (or one of the other bigs) dropped in the pick-and-roll, Doncic got his defender on his hip and forced the big to choose between contesting him or guarding against the lob.

There's just no easy answer against a guy this good, but at times there seemed to be confusion from the Wolves while they were giving Doncic different looks. Perhaps in Game 3 they'll choose a default coverage and use that more consistently, sporadically throwing wrinkles at Doncic to keep him off guard.

Ant running on fumes

It's hard to imagine a 22-year-old in peak physical condition getting fatigued, but what Anthony Edwards has been asked to do on both ends of the court for three playoff rounds is clearly taking a toll. In consecutive series, he's had to guard Kevin Durant/Devin Booker, Jamal Murray and now Kyrie Irving. Just reading those names elicits hyperventilation.

Edwards denied it after the game, but there was a report that he received oxygen when he was subbed out of the game in the fourth quarter. He struggled getting to the rim, and when he was able to break through he was met by one of the Dallas bigs -- Daniel Gafford or Dereck Lively -- which made finishing a difficult proposition. Edwards went just 2-of-8 in the paint on Friday night.

He also admitted to "turning down a lot of shots," particularly in the midrange. Edwards made it sound like he's trying to make the right play within the offense, but he also looks like his legs just aren't there on his shot. The rising star entered the series shooting 50% from the floor and 40% from 3-point range during the postseason, and in two conference finals games he's now 11-for-33 (33%) from the field and 7-of-19 (37%) from 3-point range.

The Wolves need Ant to be superhuman -- and he has been so far in the playoffs -- but he's going to need to dig deep into an extra reserve to bring his team out of this 0-2 hole.

Twin towers

It's hard to overstate how crucial the center combo of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II has been for the Mavericks this postseason. Friday may have been their best performance yet, as they combined for 30 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks (all from Gafford), while wreaking havoc on both ends of the floor. Their length defensively protected the paint from the Wolves' penetration, particularly in the second half, and they repeatedly caught lobs from Doncic and Irving when their man stepped up to help.

The duo combined for 11(!) dunks on the night.

The skill sets of the big men are so similar that it's like one energized, athletic center on the floor at all times for Dallas -- especially with stretch-five option Maxi Kleber sidelined. The fit of Gafford and Lively in Dallas has been seamless, and they may get the franchise to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011.

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FINAL: Mavericks 109, Timberwolves 108

(Dallas leads series, 2-0)

What. A. Game. Dallas fought back all night long, and turned things into a see-saw battle in the fourth quarter. Kyrie Irving took over to bring the Mavericks back, then Luka Doncic finished things off with a game-winning, step-back 3-pointer over Rudy Gobert with three seconds left. That gives Dallas a 2-0 lead heading home for Game 3. Needless to say, they're in the driver's seat ... for now.

Minnesota just couldn't get anything going offensively in the second half, as Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns both struggled mightily. Naz Reid was the lone source of offense, but he was unable to hit the potential game-winner as the buzzer sounded.

Notable stats:

  • Luka Doncic: 32 pts, 13 ast, 10 reb, 5-11 3P
  • Kyrie Irving: 20 pts, 6 ast, 4 reb
  • Daniel Gafford: 16 pts, 5 reb, 5 blk
  • Dereck Lively II: 14 pts, 9 reb, 2 ast
  • Anthony Edwards: 21 pts, 7 ast, 5 reb, 5-17 FG
  • Mike Conley: 18 pts, 5 ast, 5 reb
  • Naz Reid: 23 pts, 7-9 3P
  • Karl-Anthony Towns: 15 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast, 4-16 FG, 25 min
 

LUUUUKAAAA

Luka magic shows up in Minnesota, as his 3-pointer gives the Mavs a one-point lead with three seconds left to play.

 

Tense in Minnesota

This game is coming down to the wire, with both teams' superstars making huge plays down the stretch. It's going to come down to execution, free throw shooting and good old-fashioned star power. Buckle up.

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Playoff basketball is hard

 

What on Earth

You might never see another play like this if you watch basketball for the rest of your life.

 

Naz Threed

This man cannot miss. Naz Reid is now 7 for 8 from 3-point range for all 21 of his points. With absolutely nothing else going for the Wolves offense, Reid has been the savior of multiple broken possessions.

 

Quick 8-0 run

And just like that, Dallas has the lead. Two 3-pointers by Kyrie Irving and a post-up bank shot by PJ Washington have brought the Mavs all the way back. They have all the momentum right now, and the Wolves need Anthony Edwards to provide the answer. Stay tuned.

 

End of 3rd quarter - Timberwolves 86, Mavericks 79

The Mavs made a strong push to cut into the Wolves lead, but the Wolves answered by extending the lead to seven on Naz Reid's 3-pointer to end the quarter. Luka Doncic has carried the Mavs, while Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns have struggled in terms of efficiency. We'll see if Doncic has enough left in the tank to continue his assault in the fourth.

Notable stats:

  • Anthony Edwards: 15 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast, 4-15 FG
  • Mike Conley: 14 pts, 3 ast, 2-4 3P
  • Naz Reid: 15 pts, 5-5 3P
  • Karl-Anthony Towns: 15 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast, 4-15 FG
  • Luka Doncic: 27 pts, 8 reb, 8 ast
  • Daniel Gafford: 10 pts, 5 reb, 4 blk
  • Kyrie Irving: 7 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast, 3-11 FG
  • Dereck Lively II: 10 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast
 

Well, well, well

Look who's back within five points -- we have a game on our hands. Luka Doncic has absolutely taken over, but is showing signs of fatigue. Kyrie Irving may need to take the lead for a while while Doncic rests if the Mavs are going to continue their comeback. The Wolves offense has looked disjointed, with no real flow or energy -- doesn't help that they've gone 1 for 7 from 3-point range in the third quarter.

 

Mavs hanging around

While they've yet to cut the lead to single digits, the Mavericks just won't go away. That's not what you want to see if you're Minnesota, since Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are capable of taking over a game at any moment. The Wolves have done their damage inside and at the free throw line, but have cooled off from 3-point range in the third quarter. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards have combined to shoot 8 for 27 from the field.

 

Halftime - Timberwolves 60, Mavericks 48

It's weird to be up by 12 points and feel like you don't have the momentum, but the Mavericks went on a little run to end the second quarter to bring themselves within striking distance. That being said, the Wolves have dominated the game in virtually every facet, punishing Dallas in the paint while lighting it up from 3-point range. If the Mavs are going to come back, they'll need Kyrie Irving and the supporting cast to get going, as Luka Doncic is the only Dallas player in double figures at the half.

Notable stats:

  • Anthony Edwards: 13 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast, 3-11 FG
  • Mike Conley: 12 pts, 3 ast, 2-3 3P
  • Naz Reid: 12 pts, 4-4 3P
  • Karl-Anthony Towns: 9 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast, 3-11 FG
  • Luka Doncic: 16 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast
  • Daniel Gafford: 6 pts, 3 blk
  • Kyrie Irving: 5 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast, 2-8 FG
  • Dereck Lively II: 8 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast
 

All Wolves in the second quarter

 

Wolves on fire

Minnesota has opened up a 15-point lead early in the second quarter thanks to some phenomenal marksmanship. They're now 7 for 11 from 3-point range for the game, led by Naz Reid and Mike Conley, who have combined to go a perfect 6 for 6 from deep. The Mavs need to ride out the storm, since they know they're more than capable of getting hot at a moment's notice.

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Mavs getting out in transition

 

End of 1st quarter - Timberwolves 32, Mavericks 26

The Wolves went on the offensive -- literally -- in the first quarter, putting up 32 points to throw the first punch. Anthony Edwards seems more determined to get to the rim more than he did in Game 1, going 5 for 6 from the free throw line, though he still hasn't found the mark from 3-point range, going 1 for 4 in the first quarter. On the other side it's been Luka Doncic commanding the offense, with Daniel Gafford making an impact by finishing lobs and blocking shots.

Notable stats:

  • Anthony Edwards: 10 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast, 2-7 FG
  • Rudy Gobert: 6 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk
  • Karl-Anthony Towns: 5 pts, 2 fouls, 1-5 FG
  • Luka Doncic: 9 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast
  • Daniel Gafford: 6 pts, 3 blk
  • Kyrie Irving: 4 pts, 1 ast, 2-5 FG
 

Derrick Jones Jr. is an ATHLETE

 

Two fouls on Towns

Stop me if you've hard this one -- Karl-Anthony Towns is in foul trouble. The big man just picked up his second foul, which means he'll be on the bench for the foreseeable future. Luckily the Wolves have a Towns facsimile in Naz Reid, but they're going to need their All-Star if they're going to win Game 2.

 

Gafford doing what Gafford does

 

Early 'WTF' moment

An early miscue just cost the Timberwolves a timeout, as no players stayed in the backcourt to take Mike Conley's inbound pass. Not a great start after Chris Finch and Anthony Edwards both called out the team's lack of focus and intensity to start Game 1. Timeouts are valuable in any postseason game, so it's definitely something to keep track of moving forward.

 

Timberwolves vs. Mavericks, Game 2 info

We're less than 30 minutes from tip-off in Minneapolis. Here's the key info to know about Game 2:

Time: 8:30 p.m ET | Date: Friday, May 24
Location: Target Center -- Minneapolis
TV channel: TNT | Streaming: TNT app, Max
Odds: DAL +210, MIN -260, O/U: 207.5

Getty Images
 

Wolves biggest problem so far is...

... their non-Rudy Gobert minutes. The Wolves struggled mightily -- especially with allowing points in the paint -- with the Defensive Player of the Year on the bench in Game 1. It's an issue they need to solve if they want to win this series. CBS Sports' James Herbert has more:

Why Timberwolves' biggest issue vs. Mavericks is their non-Rudy Gobert minutes: 'We were soft'
James Herbert
 

Best bets for Game 2

CBS Sports' Sam Quinn has you covered on the best bets ahead of tonight's Game 2, including the under as the defenses come to play in Minnesota. 

Timberwolves vs. Mavericks picks, odds: Best bets for Western Conference finals Game 2
Sam Quinn
 

Finch holds 'rough film session'

Game 1 was not pretty to re-watch for the Timberwolves. Their coach was unhappy about a lot of what he saw in Wednesday night's loss, and he let his team know about it before Game 2.

"It was a rough film session," Finch said. "And I told the guys, 'It's been a long time since I've been this disappointed in your effort and your performance and your attitude, your application, your attention to detail.' It just wasn't there. The Western Conference finals started; not sure if they got the memo. But they got it this afternoon."

Here's more:

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch explains why team needed 'rough film session' before Game 2 vs. Mavericks
James Herbert
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