Jaden McDaniels made his first All-Defensive Team Tuesday. But so far in Game 1, he's putting the "three" in "three-and-D."
JADEN MCDANIELS CAN'T MISS
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2024
4/4 from 3-point range!
2Q of Game 1 of the West Finals is live on TNT pic.twitter.com/SSFe9FKHHC
In front of a raucous Minneapolis crowd, the Timberwolves' 23-year-old small forward made his first four three-pointers of Game 1. During the regular season, he was only a 33.7 percent shooter from behind the arc, but he's been picking it up in the playoffs.
Jaden McDaniels is off to a HOT START
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2024
Back-to-back triples
Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals is UNDERWAY on TNT! pic.twitter.com/EmjdK0a4zz
During Minnesota's final two wins against the Denver Nuggets, McDaniels scored 20+ points in both games, shooting 6-of-9 from deep. In his last eight quarters, McDaniels has made nine of his last 10 long-range shots.
The Mavericks might need to adjust their defensive schemes after getting burned by McDaniels. On all four of his triples, Luka Doncic has struggled to close out on McDaniels, as he's sagging into the paint to help deny Anthony Edwards' drives by default.
ANOTHER MCDANIELS 3⃣ https://t.co/RqONE9figt pic.twitter.com/LDsMYap0JR
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2024
The percentages say McDaniels can't keep this up, and he finally missed early in the second quarter. But if Dallas has to worry about McDaniels stretching the floor, Minnesota's work against the stout Mavericks defense gets a lot easier.
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