The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 105-100, on Tuesday night at American Airlines Center ¹. The Timberwolves’ win snaps a 7-game playoff losing streak against the Mavericks.
Anthony Edwards recorded his first career playoff triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Karl-Anthony Towns had his best game of the series, shooting 9-13 from the field and 3-5 from three-point range.
Luka Doncic notched his 5th triple-double of the playoffs with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists.
The Mavericks struggled from three-point range, shooting just 10-35 (28.6%). This resulted in the Timberwolves out scoring them 27-20 in the first quarter, but the Mavericks responded with a 29-22 advantage in the second quarter.
The Timberwolves took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 29-24, and held on in the fourth quarter. The Mavericks had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but a three-point attempt by Luka Doncic was blocked by Jaden McDaniels.
The Timberwolves’ bench outscored the Mavericks’ bench 35-20, led by 14 points from Taurean Prince.
The series now shifts back to Minnesota for Game 5, with the Mavericks leading 3-1.
Based on the game analysis, here are some things that the Mavericks did wrong in the game:
1. Poor three-point shooting: The Mavericks struggled from three-point range, shooting just 10-35 (28.6%).
2. Inconsistent defense: The Mavericks’ defense was inconsistent, allowing the Timberwolves to score 27 points in the first quarter and 29 points in the third quarter.
3. Rebounding problems: The Mavericks were outrebounded by the Timberwolves 48-43, which gave the Timberwolves more opportunities for second-chance points.
4. Turnovers: The Mavericks committed 17 turnovers, which led to 21 points for the Timberwolves.
5. Inadequate bench production: The Mavericks’ bench was outscored by the Timberwolves’ bench 35-20, which was a significant factor in the game.
6. Not enough support for Luka Doncic: Luka Doncic had a triple-double, but the other Mavericks players didn’t provide enough support, leading to a lack of balanced scoring.
7. Poor execution down the stretch: The Mavericks had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but a three-point attempt by Luka Doncic was blocked by Jaden McDaniels, and they were unable to execute a play to score.
These mistakes likely contributed to the Mavericks’ loss in the game.
Timberwolves did right in the game by:
1. Balanced scoring: The Timberwolves had a balanced scoring attack, with five players scoring in double figures (Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Taurean Prince, Mike Conley, and Jaden McDaniels).
2. Strong defense: The Timberwolves played solid defense, holding the Mavericks to 100 points and limiting Luka Doncic’s supporting cast.
3. Rebounding Upper Hand: The Timberwolves outrebounded the Mavericks 48-43, which gave them more opportunities for second-chance points.
4. Adequate bench play: The Timberwolves’ bench outscored the Mavericks’ bench 35-20, led by 14 points from Taurean Prince.
5. Triple-double by Anthony Edwards: Anthony Edwards had a triple-double (29 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists), which was a key factor in the Timberwolves’ win.
6. Karl-Anthony Towns’ efficient shooting: Karl-Anthony Towns shot 9-13 from the field and 3-5 from three-point range, which helped the Timberwolves build a lead.
7. Clutch plays down the stretch: The Timberwolves made several clutch plays in the final minutes, including a block by Jaden McDaniels on Luka Doncic’s three-point attempt, to secure the win.
8. Proper game planning: The Timberwolves’ coaching staff made adjustments to limit Luka Doncic’s impact and forced other Mavericks players to take shots.
9. Team Spirit: The Timberwolves played a team game, with all players contributing to the win.
10. Resilience: The Timberwolves showed resilience and determination, coming back from a 3-0 deficit in the series to win Game 4.
These factors combined to help the Timberwolves secure a crucial win in the series.
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