A lot is at stake in the third game of the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks Western Conference Finals Sunday. Directed by Luka Doncicthe Mavericks picked up wins in the first two away games and are now at home with a 2-0 series lead.
Doncic’s game-winning shot against Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert gave the Nonconformists a chance to take a 3-0 series lead as they return home for the first time in the conference finals.
The Mavericks emerged victorious and got rid of the Timberwolves, 116-107. No team in NBA history has come back from an 0-3 deficit, which gives Dallas a huge advantage.
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In Game 3, Doncic and Kyrie Irving started strong, combining for 15 points to give the Mavericks a 33-28 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Anthony Edwards performed well for the Timberwolves in the first quarter with nine points, while Karl-Anthony Towns struggled, missing all three of his field goal attempts.
The Mavericks extended their lead to eight points at halftime, outscoring the Timber wolves 27-24 in the second quarter.
By halftime, Doncic had 15 points, four rebounds and three assists, while Irving had 14 points and two assists. Derrick Jones Jr. was also impressive, scoring 11 points and making 3 of 3 from beyond the arc.
For the Timberwolves, Edwards and Jaden McDaniels led the scoring with 12 points each in the first half.
Minnesota found its momentum in the third quarter, outscoring Dallas 35-27 to tie the game heading into the fourth quarter.
However, the Doncic-Irving duo combined for 21 points in the final period to hold off the Timberwolves.
Timely baskets from Irving, Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington sparked a 13-3 run for the Mavericks. Doncic and Irving each finished with 33 points. Doncic also contributed seven rebounds, five assists and five steals, while Irving added three rebounds and four assists.
Washington and Jones combined for 27 points, 10 rebounds and five 3-pointers. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 26 points on 24 shots, nine assists and nine rebounds. Mike Conley added 16 points and Jaden McDaniels scored 15.
Karl-Anthony Towns, who played nearly 39 minutes, scored 14 points on 18 shots and grabbed 11 rebounds. On the bench, Naz Reid and Kyle Anderson scored 14 and 10 points respectively.
Dallas now holds a significant advantage and can close out the series with a home win in the next game, thus advancing to the finals.
