The Minnesota Timberwolves managed to keep their championship aspirations alive by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 105-100 on Tuesday night, preventing a sweep in the Western Conference finals. The victory marks a significant achievement for the Timberwolves, who are making their first appearance in the conference finals in two decades.
Karl-Anthony Towns was the catalyst for the Timberwolves’ comeback, scoring 20 of his 25 points in the second half. Towns, who had been struggling with his shooting throughout the series, found his rhythm when it mattered most. He finished the game shooting 9 of 13 from the field, including an impressive 4 of 5 from beyond the arc.
“He got himself going by going to the hoop,” said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. “Played quick off the catch. Stayed confident. He didn’t really look much for his three until the second half. He just had his feet set. He was ready. And they were huge.”
Anthony Edwards also delivered a standout performance, narrowly missing a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Edwards’ contributions were crucial as the Timberwolves maintained their composure in the game’s closing minutes, an area where they had faltered in previous matchups.
The Timberwolves have held leads in the final five minutes of every game in this series, but this time they closed the deal. Edwards’ jumper just inside the arc with 39 seconds left gave Minnesota a five-point cushion, helping to secure the win despite a late scare from Dallas.
Luka Doncic put up a valiant effort for the Mavericks, recording his sixth triple-double of the playoffs with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. However, his shooting woes continued, going just 7 of 21 from the field. Co-star Kyrie Irving, who was previously undefeated in closeout games, also struggled, contributing 16 points on a rough shooting night.
“That game’s on me. Just didn’t give enough energy,” Doncic admitted post-game. “They won one game. We’ve just got to focus on the next one.”
The Timberwolves’ victory was punctuated by key moments in the fourth quarter. Towns, playing with five fouls, nailed two crucial three-pointers, the first putting Minnesota ahead for good with 5:41 remaining. Edwards then extended the lead with a clutch jumper, and despite a late three-pointer from Doncic, Minnesota held firm.
The Mavericks were missing rookie center Dereck Lively II due to a neck injury sustained in Game 3, and Maxi Kleber’s return from a shoulder injury was not enough to bolster their defense against a Timberwolves team that shot a series-best 53% from the field.
With the series now standing at 3-1, the Timberwolves head back to Minnesota for Game 5, hoping to further extend the series and continue their improbable run. They aim to become only the fourth team in NBA history to force at least six games after trailing 3-0 in a series.
As they prepare for the next game, the focus will be on maintaining their momentum and capitalizing on their home-court advantage.
