T'Wolves Host Mavs, Down 1-0
The Minnesota Timberwolves play host to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals at Target Center on Friday.
Dallas leads this best-of-7 series, 1-0.
The Mavericks (1-0) had to battle to pull out that Game 1 victory, closing on a 10-3 run over the final 3:15 to prevail. Neither team had a double-digit lead in that grinder of a game, with Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic carrying the Mavs to a victory. Doncic finished with 33 points, six rebounds, eight assists and three steals, while Irving collected 30 points, five rebounds and four assists. This team will only go as far as those two will take them, but there haven't been many better offensive duos in the history of the NBA. They also killed the T'Wolves at the free-throw line, shooting 94 percent (16-of-17), while Minnesota shot just 61 percent (11-of-18).
The Timberwolves (0-1) let Game 1 slip away, blowing a four-point lead in the final minutes. They actually committed three turnovers and missed four of their final five shots, allowing Dallas to complete their comeback. They only shot 42 percent, with Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Edwards combining to shoot 12-of-36 from the field. Having your two studs shoot 33 percent on that sort of volume won't get it done, especially when you look at the duo on the other side of the floor. They did get 24 points from Jaden McDaniels, but the rim protection was struggling whenever Rudy Gobert was out of the game as well.
That Game 1 win was only the Mavericks' second win over the T'Wolves in their last six matchups.
Dallas leads this best-of-7 series, 1-0.
The Mavericks (1-0) had to battle to pull out that Game 1 victory, closing on a 10-3 run over the final 3:15 to prevail. Neither team had a double-digit lead in that grinder of a game, with Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic carrying the Mavs to a victory. Doncic finished with 33 points, six rebounds, eight assists and three steals, while Irving collected 30 points, five rebounds and four assists. This team will only go as far as those two will take them, but there haven't been many better offensive duos in the history of the NBA. They also killed the T'Wolves at the free-throw line, shooting 94 percent (16-of-17), while Minnesota shot just 61 percent (11-of-18).
The Timberwolves (0-1) let Game 1 slip away, blowing a four-point lead in the final minutes. They actually committed three turnovers and missed four of their final five shots, allowing Dallas to complete their comeback. They only shot 42 percent, with Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Edwards combining to shoot 12-of-36 from the field. Having your two studs shoot 33 percent on that sort of volume won't get it done, especially when you look at the duo on the other side of the floor. They did get 24 points from Jaden McDaniels, but the rim protection was struggling whenever Rudy Gobert was out of the game as well.
That Game 1 win was only the Mavericks' second win over the T'Wolves in their last six matchups.