The Most Important Lesson from the Mavericks vs. Timberwolves First-Round
The NBA’s Western Conference Finals got off to an exciting start on Wednesday in Minneapolis as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1.
Despite trailing 83-82 going into the fourth quarter, Luka Dončić’s team-high 33 points—15 of which came in the last quarter—led the Mavericks to a 108-105 victory.
Throughout the game, there was intense competition, and in the first half, neither Anthony Edwards of Minnesota nor Dončić showed much consistency. But Kyrie Irving scored 24 points in the first half to keep Dallas in the game, then Dončić took over in the latter two quarters.
After a 13-0 run by the Mavericks gave them an eight-point lead, the Timberwolves responded with a 10-0 run of their own to tie the game. Both teams had big runs. Dallas’s defense came through in the fourth quarter, sealing the first game and stealing the home-court advantage by keeping Minnesota scoreless for three vital minutes.
With 24 points, Jaden McDaniels led the Timberwolves, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Austin Edwards combined for just 12 of 36 field goals.
Our NBA gurus examine the pivotal moments from Game 1, possible lineup changes for Friday’s Game 2 in Minneapolis (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT), and which players will be crucial players for each team moving forward as the Mavericks take the lead.
1. What lesson did you learn the most from Game 1?
Tim MacMahon: After winning their first game under head coach Jason Kidd for the first time in six tries, the Mavericks are in unfamiliar ground. After a rather quiet second-round series by their standards, Dallas’s top combo of Irving and Dončić alternated leading the Mavericks in the opening game. Irving kept the Mavs within striking distance by scoring 24 of his 30 points in the first half. Dončić finished the game with a strong defensive performance and 15 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter.
Dave McMenamin: The Timberwolves have demonstrated thus far in what should be a protracted and intense series that the little things may have a significant impact on outcomes. Towns was called for offensive goaltending with 1:41 left in Game 1, and Dončić swiped Rudy Gobert’s lob from Mike Conley with 1:06 left. With less than two seconds left and behind by four points, Conley’s foul gave the Wolves a chance to tie the game despite these crucial mistakes. He needed to make the first two free throws then purposefully miss the third to give Minnesota a chance for a tip-in. He wasted the opportunity to make a comeback by missing the second. The Mavs went 16–17 from the line, while the Wolves finished 11–18.
Brian Windhorst: Dončić and Irving seemed to have more big-game experience than Edwards and Towns did, and this proved to be a key factor in Dallas’s triumph in Game 1. Irving demonstrated this early on by keeping the Mavericks in the contest as Minnesota was unable to make a shot. Dončić, meantime, demonstrated it near the end with an outstanding solo goal.
2. What significant changes might we anticipate in Game 2?
MacMahon: The Mavs should switch up their tag-team center rotation, favoring rookie Derek Lively II more. It might be too soon to make a big change to the starting lineup, especially with a series lead, but it’s difficult to overlook the fact that the Mavs are -62 with Daniel Gafford in the starting lineup and +106 with Lively in the playoffs.
McMenamin: After scoring 62 points in the opening two quarters, the Wolves slowed down in the second half, managing just 43 points. Towns and Edwards bemoaned Minnesota’s meager 12 fast-break points following the defeat. Edwards also accepted responsibility for letting Irving beat him down the court following a score by the Wolves to get a layup. It appears that Minnesota is ready to pick up the pace in the second game.
Windhorst: The Mavericks have stated their intention to dominate the paint and make it difficult for Minnesota to defeat them from the outside. Dallas desires to keep a number of bodies in between Towns, Edwards, and the rim. In Game 1, Edwards had to work very hard to make room, and once he was inside, Towns had nowhere to go. The Wolves were 11 of 25 on threes in the first half. Dallas’s game plan started to take off in the second half as Minnesota shot 7 of 24 from beyond the arc, with Towns and Edwards combining for 12 of 36 from the floor. This formula works well.
