Luka Doncic helps Dallas Mavericks take down Minnesota Timberwolves in NBA West Finals opener

MINNEAPOLIS – To hear Luka Doncic describe it, the Dallas Mavericks’ victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Western Conference Finals resembled a relay race.

Kyrie Irving burst out of the starting gate with 24 first-half points to keep Dallas in contention. Doncic took the baton at half-time and helped the Mavericks earn a 108-105 win with 15 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter on May 22 in Minneapolis.

“Amazing. (Kyrie) got us going. Without him, we’d probably be down 20 at half-time, so he got us going. So I had to help him in the second half a little bit,” Doncic said.

Irving finished with 30 points on 12-for-23 shooting. Daniel Gafford (10 points, nine rebounds) and Dereck Lively II (nine points, 11 rebounds) narrowly missed a double-double.

Jaden McDaniels scored 24 points and made six of nine attempts from beyond the arc to lead the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and Karl-Anthony Towns scored 16.

The Mavericks, who shot 49.4 per cent (43 for 87) from the field for the game, outscored Minnesota 26-22 in the fourth quarter.

Edwards said he and his teammates struggled to maintain their energy level for the full 48 minutes. He acknowledged that the team’s comeback win over reigning champions Denver Nuggets in Game 7 in the conference semi-finals on May 19 might have sapped some of their energy.

“Yeah, for sure. You all can see it. We were a step behind everybody, especially myself. Kyrie got a transition lay-up... and he just outran me. I was just exhausted,” he said.

Towns and Edwards, the main Timberwolves threats, were limited by the Dallas defence. Together, they shot just 12 for 36 from the field at Target Centre.

Minnesota took a 102-98 lead with three minutes and 37 seconds left in the fourth after a three-pointer from Edwards.

Dallas responded with eight unanswered points. P.J. Washington made a three-pointer from the corner and then a step-back jump shot from Doncic made it 106-102.

“I think we’re known for losing Game 1s, so we were trying to make a point. But it’s only one and we have three more to go,” said Doncic.

Irving conceded he had been fired up by the comments from Edwards after the Timberwolves’ win over Denver.

Edwards said during a television interview that “I got Kyrie”, comments that were noted by the Mavericks star.

“I used it as a motivation. When I was sitting at home and I saw that, it was like just a nod of respect. I knew what type of game it was going to be. But that was also a no-fear mentality and that’s why we love him, so I knew they were going to pressure me,” Irving said.

Meanwhile, Denver’s reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic added to his resume on May 22 by landing on the All-NBA First Team for the fourth time in his career.

Jokic was one of two unanimous selections to garner first-team votes on all 99 ballots from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, joining Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Doncic, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum completed the All-NBA First Team. REUTERS, AFP