Timberwolves Hold Off Mavericks, Forcing A Decisive Game 5
Anthony Edwards narrowly missed a triple-double, while Karl-Anthony Towns scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 105-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday. This win prevented a sweep in the Western Conference finals. Facing a 3-0 series deficit, the Timberwolves delivered their best defensive performance of the series to force Game 5 on Thursday night in Minneapolis.
Dallas' Luka Dončić finished with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists but struggled with his shooting, going 7-for-21 from the field. Kyrie Irving also had a tough night, shooting 6 of 18 and ending with 16 points. "That game’s on me. Just didn’t give enough energy," Dončić told reporters post-game. "They won one game. We’ve just got to focus on the next one."
Towns, who had been shooting just 27.8 percent in the first three games of the series, found his rhythm by hitting 9 of 13 shots and making 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. Despite his offensive resurgence, Towns fouled out with 1:38 remaining after falling for a Dončić pump fake at the three-point line.
Edwards was aggressive from the start, scoring 14 points in the first quarter and finishing with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. The Mavericks closed the gap to within three points at 100-97 with just over a minute left before Edwards hit a crucial mid-range jumper to extend Minnesota's lead.
Decisive Moments
On Dallas' following possession, Kyle Anderson stole the ball from Irving, effectively ending any hopes of a Mavericks comeback. The Mavericks were also missing standout rookie center Dereck Lively II due to a neck sprain sustained in Game 3.
Looking Ahead
No team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit in NBA history, but the Timberwolves aim to maintain pressure on Dallas in Game 5.
back to the crib.pic.twitter.com/7vWoTOUBP7
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 29, 2024
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