Luka Doncic came alive in the fourth quarter, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a thrilling 108-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
Doncic scored 15 of his 33 points in the final frame, spearheading an 8-0 run that ultimately sealed the win for Dallas. Kyrie Irving added 30 points, with 24 of them coming in the first half.
Minnesota’s star duo of Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards struggled offensively. Towns finished with 16 points on poor shooting, while Edwards had 19 points but was shut down in the third quarter. Jaden McDaniels kept the Wolves in the game with a 24-point performance, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Dallas’ dominant paint presence.
The Mavericks dominated the interior, outscoring the Wolves 62-38 in the paint. Dallas’ aggressive defense also proved effective, limiting Minnesota’s potent offense that thrived against Denver in the previous round.
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Despite trailing late, the Timberwolves fought back with a 10-0 run led by Towns. However, Doncic answered with a crucial three-pointer to regain the lead for Dallas. A controversial basket interference call on Towns’ dunk attempt further sealed Minnesota’s fate.
The win gives the Mavericks a crucial 1-0 series lead heading back to Minneapolis for Game 2 on Friday. This matchup promises to be an exciting battle between Doncic and Irving’s star power and the Timberwolves’ deep roster.
