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The Timberwolves and Mavericks will face off tonight at Target Center in Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals. Staff writer Chris Hine provides live reporting.
9:20 p.m.: Both teams trade punches, but neither can take control in the third game.
The Timberwolves defense struggled to match Dallas’ offense for much of the night, but despite allowing the Mavericks 32 points in the third quarter, the Timberwolves only allowed 83 points in the fourth. They maintained their -82 lead.
The Timberwolves started the third with extra eyes and defenders on Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, which led to some easy buckets at the rim for Mavericks center Daniel Gafford and Dallas scored the first six points of the quarter. The Timberwolves’ 3-point shooting, which was 44 percent in the first half, cooled off in the third; they made just 2 of 12 shots.
The only saving grace for the Timberwolves defense was that Dallas hit just 3 of 19 3-pointers in the game, with the Mavericks going 32 of 48 inside the arc. Irving scored just two points in the quarter, while Doncic had 18.
Anthony Edwards scored 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting, but the Timberwolves have struggled to get going offensively. Eight of his shot attempts came from 3-point range (he hit three). Neither team trailed the other throughout the quarter, with several teams always staying within a few possessions as the lead changed hands. The Wolves led 77-73 with 5:45 left in the quarter. After that, the game was within one possession either way.
8:32 p.m.: Irving scores 24 points, Mavericks trail by 3 at halftime.
Behind Jaden McDaniels’ 19 points, the Timberwolves led the Mavericks 62-59 at halftime, but they couldn’t slow down Kyrie Irving, who scored 24 points in the first half on 11-of-14 shooting.
McDaniels made 7 of 10 field goals and 5 of 6 3-pointers, and the Timberwolves got a boost from Kyle Anderson, who scored 11 points in the first half, his most points all postseason.
Anthony Edwards had 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists. But Irving spoiled the fun for the Timberwolves, who led by as many as nine points at several points at halftime. Irving finished the quarter with five straight points, three of which came after Edwards trailed by six and missed his last shot at halftime. This was just one of four turnovers committed by the Timberwolves.
Luka Doncic scored 14 points in the first half for the Mavericks. McDaniels and Anderson combined to go 12 of 17 from the field. The rest of the Timberwolves were 10 of 28.
The Timberwolves rebuilt a nine-point lead at 41-32, but just like in the first quarter, Dallas fought back every time they trailed by nine points. Doncic attacked Edwards during the run for two buckets, and Derek Lively dunked. The Timberwolves took a timeout after the Mavericks took a 9-2 lead. The Wolves maintained a slim lead throughout the quarter. Dallas doubled the Timberwolves in scoring in the paint (44-22).
8 p.m.: Wolves lead 33-27 after the first quarter.
The Wolves got points from their role players and led 33-27 at the end of the first quarter.
Anthony Edwards scored eight points for the Timberwolves, but Jaden McDaniels and Kyle Anderson made important contributions.
McDaniels scored 20 points or more in two consecutive games to close out the series against Denver, giving his team momentum from the start. McDaniels, who was guarding Luke Doncic on the other side of the court, made three 3-pointers in the opening period to give the Timberwolves a 15-8 lead. The Mavericks were 0-of-4 from 3-point range to start the game, and no one but Doncic and Kyrie Irving scored in the first 7 minutes, 24 seconds of the game.
The Timberwolves took a 21-12 lead on a 3-pointer by Anthony Edwards, but Dallas responded with an 11-0 run. It was difficult for the Timberwolves to contain Irving, who scored 13 points in the quarter. The Mavericks started with a four-point possession as P.J. Washington made a three and Rudy Gobert fouled Derek Lively, who was fighting for position inside. He hit the free throw with aplomb.
But then Kyle Anderson, who hasn’t scored much this postseason, scored seven straight points for the Timberwolves, who responded with a 10-2 burst to end the quarter after trailing 25-23. Anderson’s seven points included his first 3-pointer of the postseason.
7 p.m.: Edwards joins All-NBA team
Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards was named to the All-NBA Second Team following his second All-Star appearance. This is his first all-league honor. Let’s take a look at the team and how Edwards’ selection will affect his contract and the team’s salary cap.
Shootaround: McDaniels gets all the praise, but who will guard Kyrie?
On Tuesday, Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels was named to the league’s second team and earned his first All-Defensive Team honors.
McDaniels’ tenacious perimeter defense is the perfect complement to Rudy Gobert on the inside and is one of the main reasons the Timberwolves have the NBA’s No. 1 defense this season.
McDaniels is used to guarding some of the league’s best players, including Dallas guard Luka Doncic, who will likely be his sparring partner for much of the Western Conference finals.
During the first shootaround, Doncic was asked to name the top three perimeter defenders in the league, and he named Oklahoma City’s Lou Dort, Boston’s Jrue Holiday and Dallas teammate Derrick Jones.
He then quickly released an addendum to the statement to include Mr. McDaniels.
“He can guard No. 1 through No. 5. He’s definitely a great defender,” Doncic said. “When he was asked about the top three, he forgot about McDaniels. [mad] Aside from him, he’s definitely in the top three. He’s good, he’s got long hands, he’s focused, he’s going to be a tough opponent.”
Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards said after the Game 7 win over Denver that he would guard Kyrie Irving, but in reality, the Timberwolves will likely rotate Edwards, McDaniels, Nickell Alexander-Walker and Kyle Anderson (for Doncic) at times during the series.
Edwards, who played the best on-ball defense of his career throughout the playoffs, received four votes to the All-Defensive Second Team, beating McDaniels by 62. When asked how he felt about receiving those four votes, Edwards responded, “Only four votes?”
