Luka Doncic showcased his prowess with 33 points, 15 of which came in the fourth quarter, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 108-105 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
Kyrie Irving contributed 30 points, with 24 of them scored in the first half. Despite trailing 102-98 in the final minutes, the Mavericks rallied with an 8-0 run to secure the win.
Jaden McDaniels led the Timberwolves with 24 points, marking his third consecutive game with 20 or more points. However, Anthony Edwards, who earned All-NBA Second Team honors before the game, was limited to 19 points.
The Mavericks dominated the paint with a 62-38 advantage in points, compensating for their 6-for-25 shooting from beyond the arc.
Karl-Anthony Towns struggled, finishing with 16 points on 6-for-20 shooting, while P.J. Washington contributed 13 points and seven rebounds for the Mavericks.
The game remained tightly contested, with neither team leading by more than nine points throughout. The Mavericks capitalized on Doncic’s late surge in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
The Timberwolves, coming off a Game 7 comeback win against the Denver Nuggets in the previous round, faced a different challenge against the Mavericks’ pick-and-roll-heavy offense led by Irving.
Both teams showcased their depth, with Kyle Anderson and Naz Reid making significant contributions for the Timberwolves.
Game 2 is set to take place in Minnesota on Friday night, as the Timberwolves aim to bounce back from their Game 1 defeat and even the series.
