Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić struck a consent three-pointer with 3 seconds staying, and Minnesota Timberwolves wing Naz Reid saw his potential game-winning 3 go around-and-out as the Mavericks took Game 2 109– 108 over the Timberwolves to take a 2– 0 Western Conference finals series lead back home to Dallas.
The Mavericks, who tracked by 12 at the break and by as numerous as 18 in the 2nd half, came roaring back thanks to a 31– 26 3rd quarter burst and a 30– 22 4th quarter. In spite of how uneven the 2nd half looked, the Timberwolves had the Mavericks on the ropes with simply under a minute to play.
With the Timberwolves leading by 5, the Mavericks swung the ball around the flooring and discovered star Kyrie Irving in the corner, who tore down an important 3 to cut the cause 2. After a ruthless Anthony Edwards turnover on the other end, in which he tossed the ball into the stands along the sideline, Dallas had brand-new life with 12 seconds to play.
Out of a timeout, the Mavericks got the ball into Dončić’s hands, and he got the switch that he desired with Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. As reliable as Gobert is around the basket, he can have a hard time defensively with quicker gamers on the boundary. Dončić put the Wolves huge guy on ice skates with a crossover into a stepback 3 that was absolutely nothing however nylon, as the Mavericks went on for great.
LUKA 3-POINTER IN THE CLUTCH TO TAKE THE LEAD WITH 3 SECONDS LEFT IN THE 4Q
DAL-MIN (1-0)|4Q Live on TNT pic.twitter.com/6hNV77J8aV
— NBA (@NBA) May 25, 2024
Dončić ended up with 32 points, 13 helps and 10 rebounds, while Irving included 20 points and 6 helps. In overall, the Mavericks had 5 scorers complete in double-figures.
When it comes to the Timberwolves, it’s back to the drawing board. Edwards had a hard time once again from the flooring, which has actually been a pattern over the last couple of video games. He completed with 21 points on 5-for-17 shooting with 7 helps. His turnover at the end will leave a bad taste in his mouth heading into Game 3.
The Mavericks have all the momentum, and head home simply 2 wins far from their very first NBA Finals look because 2011.
