Luka Doncic hit a game-winning 3-pointer for the Mavericks before unleashing a torrent of expletives at the Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert as Dallas took a 2-0 series lead over Minnesota with a dramatic 109-108 victory Friday in Minneapolis.
It’s unclear exactly what the 25-year-old Slovenian said to his 31-year-old French rival after scoring the winning goal with three seconds left, but it’s safe to say he wasn’t happy with Gobert. The two had been speechless for much of the game after the Minnesota star committed a hard foul on Doncic in the first half.
Doncic appeared to say “you can’t guard me” to Gobert, but when a reporter asked him to confirm that afterward, the All-Star guard claimed he was actually “speaking Slovenian” before laughing to himself.
Immediately after the game, Doncic told the TNT crew that the Mavericks “wanted that (matchup)” with Gobert defending him on the final possession.
“I can’t move fast, but I can move faster than him,” Doncic added later, mocking the 7-foot-2 Frenchman.
Luke Doncic celebrates his winning triple by talking trash to Rudy Gobert
Doncic added 32 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds for his eighth triple-double of the postseason.
Doncic had 32 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds for his eighth triple-double in 42 career playoff games for the Mavericks, who erased an 18-point deficit that remained at the end of the second quarter and still trailed 16-point. half of the third.
Naz Reid was 7 of 9 from 3-point range for 23 points, but his final attempt at the buzzer went in and out to send the Wolves to Dallas for Game 3 on Sunday in a big hole after another bad night of stars Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Cities.
Kyrie Irving scored 13 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, including a corner 3-pointer with 1:05 left that brought the Mavericks within two. The Wolves then interspersed turnovers on a brief miss by Doncic. Edwards recklessly threw the ball out of bounds on a drive with 13 seconds left, giving the Mavericks a chance to win.
Doncic took the inbounds pass and dribbled to set up a Dereck Lively II screen that prompted a turnover by the Wolves, with NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection Jaden McDaniels falling on Lively’s roll and the Player Defensive Player of the Year, Gobert, staying out on top. of the key.
After the whistle, Doncic flexed his arms and shouted to the stunned crowd as his teammates surrounded him.
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) and guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrate Friday’s victory
After the whistle, Doncic flexed before the stunned crowd as his teammates surrounded him.
The lead for both sides was three points or less from 10:50 remaining to 1:29 until Edwards, who scored 21 points but was 11 of 33 in the series, hit two free throws for a 108-103 lead. That came right after Irving missed both free throws that had the crowd roaring in honor of the promotion that awards a free Chick-fil-A sandwich.
Mike Conley scored 18 points and Gobert had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Wolves, who needed Reid, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, more than ever. His big hit late in the third quarter gave the Wolves an 86-79 cushion just after the Mavericks closed the gap hard with a 21-7 run, mostly while Conley rested, in a 6-point stretch. :36. .
Irving, who scored just five points in the first half after scoring 24 of his 30 in Game 1 before halftime, gave the Mavericks their first lead since 7-6 with a 3-pointer to cap an 8-0 run. that started the fourth. fourth and made it 87-86.
Doncic, who flourished in the fourth quarter of Game 1 to finish with 33 points, has been battling what the Mavericks have listed on the league’s official injury report as a right knee sprain and left ankle soreness.
When he was substituted late in the first quarter, Doncic ran directly to the locker room before returning to the bench before his next shift. After racing down the court for a fastbreak layup late in the second quarter, Doncic was working and limping on the way back. He shot 5 of 14 before halftime.
The beauty of the 25-year-old Slovenian superstar’s game is that he barely needs a full-force jump in his step to dominate. She had Minnesota’s league-leading defense looking out of place on so many possessions with her laser passing.
Dallas’ Kyrie Irving tries to block a layup attempt by Anthony Edwards in Minneapolis
The Wolves were criticized by the coaching staff for their effort and execution between games, and they stayed true to form as a strong team rebounding from the few times they failed this season. Conley made the offense work clearly and cleverly every time he started.
However, when he wasn’t, the Wolves often got out of hand. Edwards forced a lot of shots and didn’t seem to have much of a plan when he had the ball. McDaniels, who scored more than 20 points in each of the last three games, didn’t score a basket until midway through the third quarter.
Towns and Gobert were especially aggressive on offense early after the Wolves were eaten up in the paint, but were still vulnerable on defense underneath as the Mavericks got away with persistent lobs to Daniel Gafford (16 points) and Lively. (14 points).
Towns scored 15 points on 4-of-16 shooting and gave way to Reid down the stretch.
