What a battle! The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Dallas Mavericks went blow for blow last night in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. For a small point, it was Dallas who won (109-108), and which now leads 2-0 in the Western Conference finals. The Texans will now host twice to try to complete the series after 4 games and qualify for their first NBA Finals since 2011.
Luka Doncic splashed the game-winner while putting up his 5th postseason TRIPLE-DOUBLE to give the Mavs a 2-0 series lead in the West Finals 🐴
🔥 32 PTS
🔥 13 AST
🔥 10 REB
🔥 5 3PM pic.twitter.com/eSlZftBef6— NBA (@NBA) May 25, 2024
If the Timberwolves led for a long time in the game, even having up to 18 points in advance during the second quarter, the Mavericks quickly came back, during an exceptional third act. The last quarter witnessed an impressive duel between the two teams. And it all ended up being decided in the last minute. The Wolves had regained a 5-point lead, but Kyrie Irving made a three-pointer in the corner.
With 12 seconds left, with a two-point lead and possession of the ball, Anthony Edwards sent the ball… to no one, directly into touch. The winning ball of course went to Luka Doncic. The Wolves strangely designated Rudy Gobert to come and defend very high on the Slovenian, far from the circle, beyond the 3-point line. The Frenchman, voted best defender in the NBA for the 4th time in his career for his abilities near the circle, was able to relax all the way, Doncic hit the mark, at 3 points.
“I found myself in my favorite position”
“When I saw he had the ball, I knew exactly what he was going to do,” Kyrie Irving smiles. I said to myself: let the magic happen! He could make his shots from the arena parking lot. He is ready and made for these moments. » Invited on the set of the broadcaster TNT just after the meeting, Luka Doncic does not hide: the duel between him and Rudy Gobert, at this point of the field, was unbalanced. “We didn’t necessarily decide to try to win,” he explains. I had asked for a screen so that I found myself in this situation (him facing Gobert). That’s what we wanted. I found myself in my favorite position, saw a gap, and took a chance. »
Sitting opposite, Draymond Green, the Golden State Warriors player and consultant for TNT during these play-offs, drinks whey and relaunches the Slovenian about Rudy Gobert, whom he has made his face like a Turk for an unknown reason . “It was like you didn’t have anyone to defend you at that point, right? », he asks her, all smiles. Doncic prefers to evade: “He’s very long and he can move, but I can move faster than him! »
During the meeting, he showed a little less restraint against his opponent. The two searched for each other a bit. Especially when Rudy Gobert made a big mistake to interrupt a counter-attack. Or several times during the match, where he was caught by the cameras shouting his rage and some insults in the direction of the Frenchman. “So damn…, you’re incapable of defending me!” “, for example, he shouted after his decisive basket at the end of the match.
Gobert good player, Edwards short of form
Rudy Gobert does not hold a grudge: “We are both competitors, there are sometimes discussions but it is always very respectful,” he declared after the meeting at a press conference. While courageously taking responsibility for the defeat on himself: “I let my team down in the last seconds,” he believes. My teammates believed in me to stop him from scoring, and he scored, an extra 3-pointer, which he usually does very well. It was my responsibility, I have to be better in this kind of situation. »
Rudy Gobert was not really helped by his teammates, who were struggling a little after a successful season. Do they have the weapons to turn the tide and win in Texas? Anthony Edwards, often impressive this season, seems to be out of form. He was seen, in the middle of the fourth quarter, entering the locker room corridor to put an oxygen mask on his face.
Doncic, for his part, achieved a new triple-double during this play-off campaign (32 points, 10 points, 13 assists), his 5th this year and the 8th of his career in the final stages. His duo with Kyrie Irving seems to complement each other perfectly. “On actions like the last one of the match, we see what the defense gives us and we adapt,” reveals Doncic. At the end, Kyrie told me: if you’re caught, I’m here to help you. » Between the veteran and the young player, the understanding is natural. While Doncic is still hampered by a painful knee that barely seems to hamper him. “I will play, whatever happens,” he assures. “We needed everyone during these first two conference final matches, but Luka, with his leadership, is incredible,” reacts Kyrie Irving. I’m never worried about him, he’s a fighter, but I told him: whenever you need a little rest, I’m here to provide in your absence. »
