Doncic and Irving Lead Mavericks to Brink of NBA Finals with Victory Over Timberwolves

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving each scored 33 points as Dallas surged to victory over Minnesota, closing with a 14-3 run that brings them within one win of the NBA Finals.

In a crucial play, Luka Doncic hustled after a ball stolen by Anthony Edwards, tipping it away to set up a scramble that he ultimately won in a jump ball situation. The Mavericks once again demonstrated their prowess on both offense and defense, edging closer to their first NBA Finals appearance in 13 years.

The game-deciding 14-3 run secured a fifth consecutive playoff win for Dallas, coming after a setback when rookie center Dereck Lively II left the game due to a sprained neck from inadvertent contact with Karl-Anthony Towns’ knee.

No team in NBA playoff history has managed to overcome a 3-0 deficit, underscoring the criticality of Game 4 slated for Tuesday night in Dallas.

“We’re focused on just one more win. Nothing is guaranteed yet. Minnesota is a formidable team, so our job isn’t done until we secure that final victory,” remarked Doncic.

The pivotal sequence began with P.J. Washington sinking a corner 3-pointer off a pass from Doncic to Irving, who swiftly found Washington. From there, Doncic and Irving took control: Doncic hit a crucial shot in the paint for a four-point lead, Irving electrified the crowd with a falling-down jumper, and Doncic set up Daniel Gafford for an alley-oop dunk, extending their lead to 113-105 with 34 seconds left. Gafford’s block on Mike Conley’s layup attempt sealed the victory.

“They tried to double-team me and Kai all game long, but that just made us more effective as a team. Everyone contributed, everyone got involved. It was an amazing team effort down the stretch,” Doncic emphasized.

Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards led his team with 26 points, but his scoring output waned after he netted eight consecutive points that drew the Wolves even in the third quarter.

Chris Finch, coach of the Wolves, lamented their struggles in closing out games throughout the series. “We need to match their scoring during those crucial final minutes. Our inability to do so has been our Achilles’ heel,” Finch admitted.

Both Doncic and Irving showcased their scoring prowess, with Irving notching 14 points in the decisive fourth quarter. Doncic shot 10-for-20 from the field and 5-for-11 from beyond the arc, while Irving finished 12-for-20 overall and 3-for-6 from long range.

With NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki, MVP of the 2011 NBA Finals, observing from the sidelines, Dallas finds itself on the brink of its first NBA Finals appearance since Nowitzki led them to their sole championship.

The game was marked by a concerning injury to Dereck Lively II, who suffered a sprained neck in a collision with Karl-Anthony Towns’ knee. Lively, a pivotal figure in Dallas’ playoff success, remained perfect from the field in the series, contributing significantly before his injury.

Game 4 promises to be another intense battle as Dallas seeks to clinch the series and advance to the NBA Finals.