Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving each scored 33 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 116-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals.
Decisive Final Minutes
The Mavericks closed the game with a 14-3 run, showcasing their resilience and clutch performance. After a steal by Anthony Edwards, Doncic’s hustle created a jump ball that he won, setting the stage for Dallas’ strong finish. P.J. Washington initiated the final stretch with a crucial corner three-pointer, assisted by Irving.
Clutch Performances by Doncic and Irving
Doncic and Irving dominated the final minutes, with Doncic hitting a shot in the lane and Irving scoring on a falling-down jumper. Doncic then connected with Daniel Gafford for an alley-oop dunk, pushing the lead to 113-105 with 34 seconds remaining. Gafford also made a critical block on Mike Conley’s layup attempt, solidifying the win.
“They’re trying to double me the whole game, trying to double Kai, so that just makes us better,” Doncic said. “Everybody touches the ball; everybody plays. That’s an amazing win. You know, we come down to the stretch and we execute.”
Timberwolves Struggle in Crunch Time
Despite a strong performance from Anthony Edwards, who scored 26 points, the Timberwolves faltered in the closing moments. Minnesota missed seven consecutive shots after taking a 104-102 lead with five minutes left. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 14 points but struggled from beyond the arc, missing all eight of his three-point attempts.
Injury Concerns
Rookie center Dereck Lively II left the game with a sprained neck after a collision with Towns. Lively, who has been perfect from the field in the series, played a significant role in Dallas’ success, and his absence was felt on the court.
Looking Ahead
The Mavericks are now one win away from their first NBA Finals appearance in 13 years. Game 4 is set for Tuesday night in Dallas, where they can complete the sweep and punch their ticket to the finals.
“We just say one more; we need one more,” Doncic said. “Nothing done. They have an amazing team, so nothing is done yet. We’ve got to get one more, and then if we get one more, we need the rest.”
The Mavericks, led by stellar performances from Doncic and Irving, have put themselves in a dominant position to advance. Their clutch play and team cohesion have been key in their success, while the Timberwolves will need to find answers quickly to avoid elimination. As the series continues, the Mavericks’ focus remains on securing that final win to advance to the NBA Finals.
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