Timberwolves Beat Mavericks 105-100, Avoid Sweep in Western Conference Finals
In a critical game, the Minnesota Timberwolves managed to stave off elimination, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 105-100 in the Western Conference finals. Karl-Anthony Towns led the charge with 25 points, 20 of which came in the second half. Anthony Edwards contributed significantly with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists.
This victory keeps the Timberwolves alive in their first Western Conference finals appearance in two decades and only the second in the franchise's 35-year history. The series now stands at 3-1 in favor of the Mavericks.
Luka Doncic showcased another stellar performance for the Mavericks with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, marking his sixth triple-double of the playoffs. However, he and Kyrie Irving struggled from the field, shooting just 13 of 39 combined.
Minnesota, seeded third, will return home for Game 5, aiming to further challenge the fifth-seeded Mavericks and potentially extend the series. The Timberwolves have consistently held leads in the final moments of games throughout the series, finally securing a win in this crucial matchup.
Towns, despite encountering foul trouble in the third quarter, delivered crucial plays down the stretch, including pivotal three-pointers that helped seal the victory for Minnesota.
Assistant coach Micah Nori assumed a more active role on the sidelines due to head coach Chris Finch's confinement to the second row because of a knee injury. Finch's passionate support led to a technical foul during the game.
The Timberwolves' balanced effort was evident with contributions from Mike Conley, who scored 14 points, and Rudy Gobert, who recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Jaden Hardy provided a spark off the bench for the Mavericks with 13 points, including timely baskets that kept the game competitive.
Minnesota's win prevents them from becoming the 16th team out of 21 to suffer a sweep after losing the first three games of a series at home. They now aim to become just the fourth team to force a series to at least six games.
The next game, slated for Thursday night, will be pivotal for both teams as they vie for a spot in the NBA Finals.
