The Mavericks expect Luka Doncic to make big shots in the fourth quarter. His big defensive plays are just a bonus.
CLUTCH.
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2024
Luka Magic https://t.co/MnsTva5Aq5 pic.twitter.com/vMD6bBOT0h
Doncic scored 15 of his 33 points in the final quarter – and added two steals in the final 2:02 – as Dallas took Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals from the Minnesota Timberwolves, 108-104.
PJ WASHINGTON FOR THE LEAD
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2024
West Finals Game 1 4Q is live on TNT pic.twitter.com/e13TqsJZT2
After 46 minutes in which Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels scored 24 points with Doncic as his primary defender, the Mavericks superstar got a stop and a steal on the Wolves forward. Two passes later, P.J. Washington made a wide-open three-pointer to give Dallas a lead they wouldn't give up.
Dallas took the lead early in the fourth quarter when they went on a 13-0 run, largely due to Doncic. He scored nine points, assisted on a Derrick Jones Jr. basket and got a "Kobe assist" after Dereck Lively II got an easy putback off a Doncic miss.
Luka Doncic just went on a 7-0 run by HIMSELF in the 4Q to take the lead https://t.co/GCClcWxbch pic.twitter.com/p94EubDDFp
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2024
Minnesota responded with a 13-1 run of their own, helped by a struggling Karl-Anthony Towns finally finding the range during a tough 6-for-20 shooting night.
KAT FROM DOWNTOWN FOR THE LEAD ‼️
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2024
Wolves lead down the stretch in the 4Q of Game 1 on TNT pic.twitter.com/EzVgQ6Js2E
But the shot that Towns and Wolves fans will be thinking about is one that didn't count. Mike Conley missed a three-pointer and Towns swooped in for what he thought was a game-tying dunk. But Towns grabbed the ball when it was above the cylinder, giving Dallas the ball on the offensive goaltending call.
what do yall think? pic.twitter.com/iS80x0pvoq
— MavsHighlights (@MavsHighlights) May 23, 2024
Ultimately, it was too much Doncic for Minnesota. On the Timberwolves' next possession, Doncic broke up a Mike Conley lob pass. And in a game that saw Dallas shoot only 6-for-25 from three-point range, Doncic closed the lead to a single point with a three, one possession before Washington's big shot.
Luka cuts the deficit to 1 in the 4Q of Game 1 on TNT!#NBAConferenceFinals presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/loDwDz5BZp
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2024
Kyrie Irving scored 24 in the first half. Doncic had 19 in the second half. That combination let the Mavericks steal home-court advantage.
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