What of Luka Doncic It is within the reach of very few in history and in the early hours of Friday to Saturday, in the second game of the Conference Finals of the NBA playoffs, he demonstrated it again. The dallas Mavericks They already win 2-0 at Minnesota Timberwolves after a new exhibition by the Slovenian, helped by Kyrie Irvingto add a tight 108-109 victory in Minneapolis.
The match was decided with just three seconds remaining, the work of Doncic. The Slovenian had physical problems and played a good part of the game lame. That did not prevent him from being on the court in the final minutes and once again carrying the team on his back. Neither Rudy Gobertthe best defender of the NBA For four years (2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024), he was able to stop what is already a classic: step back, shot from the three-point line and basket. Luka’Clutch Time‘Doncic nailed it in the last of the game to continue making history.
Doncic added a triple double of 32 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists, including 5 triples, while Irving hit 4 triples in the final quarter that added 20 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists. Daniel Gafford contributed 16 points, Derek Lively 14, y PJ Washington 10.
For the Timberwolves, the top scorer was the substitute Naz Reidwho made 7 triples out of 9 attempts for a total of 23 points. Anthony Edwards added 21, Mike Conley 18, Rudy Gobert’s double double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Karl-Anthony Towns 15.
Dallas won 105-108 in Minnesota on Wednesday in the first game of the conference finals. The Mavericks coach, Jason Kiddsaid after the first game of the series that he wanted to improve on three-pointers and Doncic debuted with a long-distance one two minutes into the second game.
The second battle at Minneapolis
The even first half of the opening quarter tied at 2, 4, 7, 12, 15 and 17 and Doncic hit his second triple of two attempts and reached his 9 personal points. The first player to score 10 points was, from a triple, Edwards, who was criticized for having contributed 19 points in the previous game, in addition to 11 rebounds and 8 assists, and the locals finished the quarter 6 up (32-26).
After coming off the bench, Reid nailed his third triple of three attempts to open the scoring of the second quarter, Conley followed with another from long distance and Doncic answered with his third from outside the large area.
Conley made it three again, Reid, on a roll, hit his fourth triple out of four attempts and Edwards, with his second from deep, got the biggest lead so far (55-37).
The Mavericks reacted and managed to briefly cut the home lead, but with 28.6 percent shooting on three-pointers compared to the Timberwolves’ 47.1 percent, they went into halftime with a 12-point deficit (60-48).
With both teams gritting their teeth on defense, Dallas tried to get points from Minnesota, but 25 points from Doncic, who also added 7 rebounds and 7 assists, were not enough for the Mavericks to cut back with Irving missing (71-63) . The Slovenian scored his fourth triple and assisted Green, who also shot from distance, assisted by the former Madrid player, managed to reduce the difference to 5 (75-70).
The Timberwolves were more unsuccessful in the third segment from all distances and the Mavericks took advantage of it. Jaden Hardy’s second triple put Dallas on the heels of Minnesota (75-73) and, after a frenetic exchange of quick baskets and Reid’s fifth triple of five attempts, the third quarter ended 86-79.
Two triples from Irving, who woke up at the beginning of the final quarter, and a hook from Washington, put the Texans ahead (86-87). Reid made his sixth triple out of seven attempts and Irving answered with his third in just a few minutes. The fans roared at the Target Center in Minneapolis with the rapid exchanges of leadership when Reid hit his seventh three-pointer before reaching the halfway point of the final segment (94-92).
The exciting match tied at 94 and 96, continued with leadership changes and Irving’s fourth triple in the same quarter kept the Mavericks’ hopes with 1.05 left (108-106) and another triple by Doncic gave the visitors the victory 4 seconds left (108-109).
2024-05-25 06:50:32
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