Here are five highlights from the Mavericks’ 116-107 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Sunday night’s Game 3 of the Western Conference finals, putting them just one win away from their third NBA Finals appearance:
1. Drama in the Fourth Quarter
Thousands of fans were on their feet during the latter half of the fourth quarter. With the game tied at 104, PJ Washington nailed a corner 3 with 3:38 left, giving the Mavericks a slim 3-point lead. Luka Doncic then hit a fadeaway shot while falling, pushing the Mavs to a 109-105 lead. Jason Kidd quickly helped Doncic up, trying to get the MVP candidate back on defense. Kyrie Irving added to the excitement with a fading 3-pointer with 1:07 left. The dagger came with 34.8 seconds remaining when Doncic lobbed to Daniel Gafford for a one-handed slam over Rudy Gobert.
2. Doncic-Irving Show Continues
The pairing of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving has been electric throughout the Western Conference finals. Sunday was no different, with each scoring 33 points. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Irving and Doncic are the first starting backcourt in the last 50 years to score at least 60 points in the same postseason game three times. Doncic was a constant offensive threat, but Irving shined brightest in the fourth quarter, scoring about a third of his points in the final 12 minutes, including his signature left-handed floater to tie the game at 104.
3. Edwards Wakes Up
Anthony Edwards, who had been relatively quiet in Games 1 and 2, promised to be more aggressive in Game 3. He delivered, finishing with 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists on 11-of-24 shooting. A sequence in the third quarter epitomized his assertiveness: Edwards soared for a dunk over Daniel Gafford, then hit a midrange pull-up jumper, and scored again on the next possession to tie the game at 77. Despite his efforts, the Wolves fell into an 0-3 hole.
4. Lively’s Streak and Injury
Dereck Lively II continued his streak of not missing a field goal in the Western Conference finals, making his first three attempts of the game, including a powerful dunk over Rudy Gobert. However, with 8:35 left in the second quarter, Karl-Anthony Towns inadvertently kneed Lively in the back of the head while going for a rebound. Lively remained on the floor for several minutes before being helped to the locker room. He was later ruled out with a neck sprain. Though his field goal streak is intact, his health is now the top priority.
5. Free-Throw Improvement
After a subpar performance at the free-throw line in Game 2, where they made only 15 of 22 attempts, the Mavericks improved significantly on Sunday, hitting 26 of 31 from the stripe. Doncic led the way, making eight of his 10 free throws, while PJ Washington made all four of his attempts. Irving contributed by making 6 of 8. The Mavericks had 17 free-throw attempts in the third quarter alone, which helped them stay in the game as Edwards led the Timberwolves’ comeback.
Historical Context
The last time the Mavericks faced the Wolves in the playoffs was during the 2001-02 season, when Dallas swept Minnesota in a three-game first-round series. With another win on Tuesday, the Mavericks could clinch their third sweep in franchise history and secure their third NBA Finals appearance, making history once again.
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