Luka Doncic Leads Dallas Mavericks to NBA Finals with Dominant Victory Over Timberwolves
Sportsgrid Staff
Host · Writer
Luka Doncic was in prime form, sinking shots from all over the court, silencing the crowd, and flashing his signature sly smiles as the Dallas Mavericks delivered a knockout performance.
Now, one of the global sport’s young superstars is heading to his first NBA Finals.
Doncic exploded with a 20-point first quarter, finishing with 36 points—a personal high this postseason—as the Mavericks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-103 on Thursday night, cruising through the Western Conference finals in five games.
“He let his teammates know that it’s time and they’ve got to take it up a notch,” coach Jason Kidd said. “He sent the invites out, and they all came.”
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Kyrie Irving matched Doncic’s 36 points, with the Mavericks building a 29-point halftime lead on 61% shooting, deflating the once-energized crowd before most fans got up for their first snack break. The Mavs extended their lead to 36 points in the third quarter, consistently keeping the Timberwolves’ offense out of rhythm.
As the No. 5 seed in the West, the Mavericks now have a full week to rest before the NBA Finals begin in Boston on June 6. This marks the franchise’s first appearance since winning the championship in 2011, when Kidd was a player for the team. The Celtics will have had 10 days between games after sweeping Indiana in the Eastern Conference finals.
Anthony Edwards scored 28 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 points and 12 rebounds for the third-seeded Timberwolves. However, they struggled against the defense-dismantling duo of Doncic and Irving after stifling Phoenix in a first-round sweep and dethroning defending champion Denver in a seven-game series. Irving improved to 15-1 in his career in playoff closeout games.
Doncic set a defiant tone by starting 4 for 4, hitting long-range shots from 28 and 31 feet, and talking trash to the courtside fans with each swish. The Mavericks’ dynamic duo left the Timberwolves and their fans stunned, showcasing the high-powered offense and tenacity that have carried them to the brink of NBA glory.
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