25/05/2024 08:30hs.
A triple by Luka Doncic with three seconds on the clock defined the second game of the NBA Western Conference Finals in favor of the Dallas Mavericks to prevail 109-108 Over the The Minnesota Timberwolves -who have the Argentine as assistant coach Pablo Prigioni– and take a 2-0 series lead. Dallas had won last Wednesday in Minnesota 108-105 in the first game of the series.
Doncic, 25, continues to overcome the difficulties caused by an injury to his left knee and continues to lead the Mavericks, as he did on the day for 35 minutes with a stellar line of 32 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists. The Balkan player achieved his fifth triple double of these Playoffs.
“I’m just trying to find my position on the court,” Doncic said of the game-winning shot. “I can’t move very fast but I move faster than my marker (Rudy Gobert), like I said before, I just try to find my position.”
“Some players score better and others score worse, I just try to play basketball. I think we have shown confidence and positive energy, it is never lost until the buzzer sounds.”
Kyrie Irving shot 44% (7/16) from the field with 20 points, he had foul problems that not only limited his minutes but also his pace of competition.
However, It was Irving who with 10:22 left in the game scored the three-point basket that gave Dallas the lead 87-86 for the first time since 7-6 in the first quarter and from that moment on, the game changed.
Derrick Lively II was the third key piece of the night for Dallas with 14 points and nine rebounds. The first-year center was perfect in his six attempts from the court and also influenced defensively in the climactic moments of the game.
Luka Doncic’s face at the press conference says it all. (AP)
The match
The Timberwolves reached a lead of up to 18 points in the first half. The Mavericks’ response came in the third quarter in which they managed to close the gap to seven, the continuation came in the last period, which they started with an 8-0 run.
Minnesota spread the production on offense, four of its five starters scored over 12 points and they were joined by Naz Reid, winner of the sixth man award, with seven triples and 23 points.
Anthony Edwards did not have his best night in terms of effectiveness, connecting on five of his 17 attempts from the field, the same scenario as the attacker of Dominican origin Karl-Anthony Towns who added 15 points on 25% from the field.
For the second straight game, the Timberwolves had the lead late in the game but couldn’t keep ita poor delivery by Edwards and a video review led to Dallas’ last opportunity that became the winning triple.
The series will continue on Sunday with the first of two consecutive games at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. For its part, this Saturday from 9:30 p.m. (Argentine time), in Indiana, the Pacers will host the Boston Celtics, who lead the Eastern final series 2-0.
Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, two great people responsible for the Mavs’ victory.
Video: the best five plays of the game
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2024-05-25 11:30:57
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