Are the Timberwolves eliminated if they lose Game 5 to the Mavs today?

In Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals today, the Minnesota Timberwolves must beat the Dallas Mavericks again if they’re to stay alive in the NBA Playoffs.

Defeated in the first three games of the Conference Finals, the Timberwolves were one loss away from suffering a series sweep when they visited the Mavericks on Tuesday. However, Chris Finch’s team avoided the ignominy of a whitewash by winning 105-100 at American Airlines Center, to cut their series deficit to 3-1.

Anthony Edwards starred for the visitors - registering 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists - in a Timberwolves display that earned praise from head coach Finch. “I thought we played well right out of the gate,” the 54-year-old told reporters post-game, adding: “All credit to our guys […]. They found a way to win a game.”

In Minneapolis tonight, the Timberwolves now face the Mavericks’ second match point, as the Texans bid to close out the best-of-seven series and reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011.

“We’ve just got to keep battling on,” Finch said. “They [Mavericks stars such as Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving] are unbelievably great players, their finger prints have been all over this series, making so many great plays and tough shots. At some point, maybe they’re going to have a little bit of an off night, you know.”

Mavericks vs Timberwolves: Game 5 start time, how to watch

Game 5 between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves will be played at Target Center in Minneapolis today, Thursday 30 May 2024. Tip-off in Minnesota is scheduled for 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT, and TV viewers in the United States can watch the game on TNT. You can also stream the action live on the online platform fuboTV, which offers new users a free trial.

Enjoy the Mavericks vs the Timberwolves on fuboTV.

How many teams have come back from 3-0 down in NBA Playoffs?

History is certainly not on the Timberwolves’ side. In best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series, no team has ever fought back to progress after losing the opening three games. According to NBA stats, of the 154 times that a series has been at 3-0 after Game 3, just four teams have at least battled back to force a Game 7.

Most recently, the NBA witnessed such an almost-turnaround at this stage of last year’s postseason. The Boston Celtics rallied to level their Eastern Conference Final with the Miami Heat at 3-3, only to lose the decider to the eventual NBA Finals runners-up.

Have the Timberwolves ever reached the NBA Finals?

Were they to beat the odds and set up a date with the Celtics - who this week booked their spot in the NBA Finals with a 4-0 Eastern Conference Finals victory over the Indiana Pacers - Minnesota would make history in more ways than one.

The Timberwolves would not only be the first team to recover from 3-0 down in an NBA Playoffs series, but would also become the first side in franchise history to win the Western Conference championship and qualify for the NBA Finals. Minnesota have only been in the Conference Finals once before, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004.