[ad_1]
This is an AI-generated summary and may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
The cold-blooded Luka Doncic showed up again, hitting a decisive three-pointer in the final seconds, ending the game with an amazing triple-double and helping the Mavericks beat the Timberwolves 2-0 in the Western Conference Finals.
The Dallas Mavericks were trailing in the final seconds of the game and needed a big outburst.
Luka Doncic is on the floor. So no one on the Mavericks is questioning which player is going to get a shot or find the open man.
“The play was to get Luka the ball and then have Luka do what he’s supposed to do,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said.
“He trusts his teammates. If they come at him, he knows who to get the shot on.”
“We talked about taking the two points — we were down by only two — but when he was dancing with (Rudy) Gobert, you could see the step-back was coming. The rest is history.”
Doncic’s go-ahead three-pointer with 3.1 seconds left helped the Dallas Mavericks defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-108 in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals in Minneapolis on the evening of May 24 (Saturday, May 25 Manila time).
The Mavericks lead the best-of-seven series 2-0 and will travel to Dallas for the next two games.
Luka Doncic hits the game-winning shot in Game 2 🤯🎥
Mavericks lead 2-0 in Western Conference Finals 🐴 pic.twitter.com/C2EjcZBSxT
— NBA (@NBA) May 25, 2024
Naz Reid led the Timberwolves with 23 points. He shot 8 of 13 from the field and 7 of 9 from 3-point range to give Minnesota a chance to win, but his final 3-point attempt fell as the buzzer sounded.
Anthony Edwards had 21 points, five rebounds and seven assists for Minnesota. Mike Conley added 18 points.
The Timberwolves led 108-103 with 1:29 left before Dallas mounted a late fightback.
Irving hit a 3-pointer at 1:05. Jaden McDaniels and Edwards turned the ball over on Minnesota’s next two possessions before Doncic hit the game-winner.
After shooting 5-for-17 from the field, Edwards took the blame on himself.
“They just showed me the crowd sitting in the gaps,” Edwards said of Dallas’ defense.
“But I turned down a lot of shots, like mid-range shots and stuff like that, I turned down a lot of them. But we got open shots, so I didn’t trip over them.”
Luka’s winning goal.
Kyrie’s 13 4Q scores.Mavericks duo wins in clutch time, takes 2-0 lead in Western Conference finals 💪 pic.twitter.com/obrJejflMX
— NBA (@NBA) May 25, 2024
Gafford energized the Mavericks throughout the game. At one point, he blocked a 3-pointer on defense before sprinting across the court and scoring a layup to give the Mavericks a 96-94 lead with 5:55 left.
Entering the fourth quarter, the Mavericks trailed 86-79.
Conley made two free throws to give Minnesota a 68-52 lead with 9:07 left in the third quarter.
Dallas responded with a 13-3 run to cut the deficit to 71-65 with 5:40 left in the third quarter. Doncic capped the run with a 10-foot floater.
At halftime the Timberwolves led 60-48.
Luka Doncic hits game-winning shot for his fifth triple-double of the playoffs to give the Mavericks a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals 🐴
🔥 32 points
🔥 13 AST
🔥 10 Leib
🔥 5 p.m. pic.twitter.com/eSlZftBef6— NBA (@NBA) May 25, 2024
Edwards scored 10 points in the first quarter to help the Timberwolves lead 32-26. He made a field goal, a 3-pointer and five of his six free throws.
Minnesota continued the pressure in the second quarter.
Conley put the Timberwolves up by 14 with a drifting jumper with 1:32 left in the half, but Josh Green answered with a basket with 1:10 left in the half. – Rappler.com
[ad_2]
Source link
