Luka Doncic Shines as Dallas Mavericks Edge Past Minnesota Timberwolves in Western Conference Finals Opener
Slovenia’s Doncic showcased his prowess by leading the Dallas Mavericks to a hard-fought 108-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening clash of the NBA’s Western Conference Finals.
Doncic, the top scorer of the game with 33 points, demonstrated his clutch performance with 15 crucial points in the final quarter, propelling the Mavericks to seize the early advantage in the best-of-seven series.
Contributing to Dallas’ success, Kyrie Irving added 30 points, with an impressive 24 points coming in the first half of the intense showdown in Minneapolis.
“We had to put in a tremendous effort to secure this win,” remarked Doncic. “Given our history of struggling in game ones, we were determined to set the tone. However, it’s just the beginning, and we still have three more wins to secure.”
In a nail-biting final quarter characterized by frequent lead changes, Anthony Edwards’ 24-foot three-pointer momentarily gave the Timberwolves a 102-98 lead with less than four minutes remaining. Yet, a resilient Mavericks squad responded with eight unanswered points, including a signature step-back jump shot from Doncic, reclaiming control and ultimately clinching victory.
Jaden McDaniels led the scoring for the Timberwolves with 24 points, while Edwards contributed 19.
The stage is set for an eagerly awaited Game Two, scheduled for Friday in Minneapolis.
