NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
Luka Doncic sucked the air out of the Target Center almost from the opening tip. He came out on fire but so did the Dallas’ defense, which was sharp and had more depth with Dereck Lively back in the mix. It was one of those nights where everything clicked for the Mavericks and by halftime Dallas fans should have been researching hotels and restaurants in Boston.
Here are takeaways from the Dallas’ win in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.
Maybe don’t anger Luka Doncic
Early in the game, a Timberwolves fan in in the front row at the Target Center was loudly taunting Luka Doncic — the person kept waving a handkerchief at Doncic as a reference to him crying about not getting foul calls. Doncic just smiled, according to Ben Golliver of the Washington Post.
An angered Doncic rained fire on Minnesota scoring 20 in the first quarter — and he kept staring at that fan after every bucket, and even yelled at the person.
“I can’t tell you. If I tell you, I could sue him,” Doncic said when asked what the heckler was saying. “But, you know, that gets me going. Everybody knows that.”
The Mavericks should thank that fan.
Doncic also adjusted. Minnesota had some luck covering Luka with Kyle Anderson in Game 4 — Anderson’s
nickname is “slo-mo” for a reason, but Anderson is big and Doncic doesn’t win with explosiveness, so it worked.
However, much like dealing with Nikola Jokic, give Doncic time, and he will figure things out. He figured out the Timberwolves defense to start this game. By the time Minnesota realized what hit them, it was too late. Their season was ending.
What’s next for the Timberwolves
Give the Timberwolves their flowers—this was one of the best seasons in franchise history. Minnesota won 56 games and reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time since the Kevin Garnett Timberwolves.
Minnesota’s fans deserved this run.
Part of what held this team back in the biggest moments of the Western Conference Finals was experience. Dallas’ core had it, while Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid did not. Those Timberwolves gained a lot more of it…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/mavericks-vs-timberwolves-game-5-150005788.html
Author : NBC Sports
Publish date : 2024-05-31 15:00:05
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
