With an incredible three-point shot, the Slovenian crucified the Wolves on Friday night during Game 2 of the Western Conference final. The Mavericks lead 2-0.
Slovenian magician Luka Doncic, with a long shot, allowed the Dallas Mavericks to win Friday 109-108 on the wire in Minnesota, to lead 2-0 in the Western Conference final.
Dallas won twice on the Wolves floor in three days to ideally kick off its conference final.
Five points difference with one minute to go
After a close first match, the Mavericks were this time able to come back from 18 points behind during the second quarter, then a small gap of five points with just over a minute to go.
A long-range shot from Luka Doncic, author of a triple double (32 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds) finished off the Wolves four seconds from time. The Slovenian was able to get past the defense of French pivot Rudy Gobert, dropping a few insults along the way, to score a decisive basket before Naz Reid missed the winning shot for Minnesota.
“The game plan (on this possession) was to give the ball to Luka, so that he does what Luka does in these kinds of moments, explained his coach Jason Kidd. We mentioned the idea of a two-point shot (to equalize), but when he started to make Rudy Gobert dance we saw the +step-back+ coming, and the rest was written.
“Luka carried us like crazy”
In triple-double, Doncic continues to shine during these play-offs where his star duo with Kyrie Irving (20 points), slowed down by his personal errors on Friday, is running at full speed.
The two teams offered a superb fourth quarter, with eleven changes of leader.
“It was a great play-off match, Irving appreciated. Luka (Doncic) carried us like crazy, that’s what being a leader is.”
Daniel Gafford helped Dallas with 16 points and five blocks“everyone contributed” Irving appreciated.
Opposite, Anthony Edwards scored 21 points, grabbed five rebounds and distributed seven assists, but was still clumsy shooting 5 of 17.
Mike Conley scored 18 points, and French pivot Rudy Gobert 16 points with 10 rebounds, in addition to 15 points from Karl-Anthony Towns.
Wolves coach Chris Finch regretted crucial losses of balls in the last minute, and felt that his young star Anthony Edwards (22) should “improve your decision making”without thinking of resting him further, pointing out the importance of these meetings.
Dallas won twice on the Minnesota floor to lead 2-0 in the series, putting pressure on the Wolves before Game 3 on Sunday in Texas of this best-of-seven series.
2024-05-25 11:37:13
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