Timberwolves 105 - 100 Mavericks summary, stats, scores and highlights | Western Conference Finals Game 4
With the game on the line, the 22 year old made sure the ball was in his hands. Up by 6 with under 2:00 to go, and comes up with this craft shot in traffic to essentially bury the Mavs late in the fourth. The Wolves stars showed up for the first time in the series, and they did so just in time. Now they will have to bring that same sort of energy for Game 5 at the Target Center on Thursday at 8:30 ET.
The real KAT showed up in Game 4 and sent the series back to Minnesota. He ended the night with 25 points and 5 rebounds.
KAT trusted his jumper despite struggling from the field in this series, and hit a couple of huge threes down the stretch. He went 9/13 from the field and hit 4 of 5 threes in the must win game in Dallas.
With the game tight late, KAT took over. He hadn't played great in the first three games, and the Wolves hadn't closed games out in the late few minutes of the fourth. KAT made sure he brought it late on, and that's why Minnesota is sticking around for at least another game.
Gobert came up with one of his best offensive games of the series, scoring 13 and brining down 10 rebounds while battling foul trouble for the majority of the second half.
It wasn't just ANT and KAT coming through in the clutch. The defense made sure to give the Mavs fits in the potential close out game. Luka and Kyrie were a combined 13 of 37 from the field in Game 4, percentages that are way down for each of them in this series.
With the series and the season on the line, KAT knew he was going to need to have a big second half. He battled foul trouble all night long, and eventually fouled out with under a minute to go, but did is damage in the first 47 minutes. He was aggressive, he was determined and he was decisive in the Game 4 win.
While Edwards went cold, it was Mike Conley stepping up and showing his veteran experience in a must win game. He had 13 at the half, most coming in the second quarter and finished the game with 14.
Edwards had 14 in the first quarter, but slowed down in the second which allowed the Mavs to claw back into the game. This three was his only bucket of the second quarter, but he would come through in the clutch late in the game.
The Wolves went up by 12 in the first quarter and that was the largest lead that any team had all game. The rest of the game was played on a knifes edge as both teams exchanged blows and shares of the lead.
It has been the Dallas duo starring in the spotlight in the first two games of this series, but in a must win situation Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns came through and had big games. KAT didn't have a great first half, but he ran the break, passed the ball and played defense while he warmed up his shot for the second half.
The Minnesota Timberwolves survived Game 4 in Dallas and forced at least another game in the Western Conference Finals after holding off the Mavericks in Dallas. Anthony Edwards was an assist short of a triple double in the 105-100 victory from American Airlines Center.
Everyone knew if the Wolves were going to they would need a special night from their superstar Anthony Edwards. He wasted no time getting off on the right foot, pushing the pace and forcing the issue against the Mavs in the opening quarter.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
The Minnesota Timberwolves force Game 5 and live to fight another day!
Inbound pass over the top to Reid and he lays it up and in!
Timeout DAL with 11.1 on the clock.
Gobert got the rebound and MIN calls a timeout with 12.8 to go.
Doncic pulls up from way downtown and drills the three after the foul on Edwards!!! FT is no good.
Irving threw it away off the timeout and Conley goes to the line after the Gafford foul. He hits one of two with 20.1 to go.
Edwards pulls up from just inside the arc and hits the deep two that might have just sealed this game.
TImeout DAL with 38.8 to go in the game.
Kyrie with the long offensive board and he floats it up and in with 1:00 to go.
KAT picks up his 6th foul on the three ball from Doncic and he is done for the night. Luka goes to the line and hits all three FTs.
Edwards pivots in the lane and floats it up over traffic as the shot clock buzzer sounds.
Towns with another three ball from the wing with a hand all in his face!
Irving drives down the lane and finds Gafford for the reverse slam!
Doncic sends Gobert to the line, but he misses both FTs!
Doncic pulled up for three and it was in and out before Gobert dragged down the rebound out of the timeout. Timeout MIN with 4:46 to go in the 4th.
Edwards finds Towns in the corner and he strokes another three ball!
Timeout Mavs with 5:04 to go in the final quarter!
KAT answers back with a huge three ball from the top of the key!
Irving pulls up from outside the lane and hits the jumper over Gobert.
KAT drives, and dumps off for Gobert who throws it down with authority.
Washington with a quick 5 points after a three ball and a lay up over Gobert.
Gobert to the line after the foul on Kleber and he hits one of two FTs.
Jones with the extra pass to Washington who drills the three from the wing and ties this game up.
Edwards pulls up from the mid range and uses the glass to caress it in from the wing.
Gafford called for a defensive three seconds, and KAT goes to the line where he hits the FT.
Doncic lunges to the bucket and gets fouled by Gobert, his fifth. Luka steps to the line and hits one of two FTs. It's all tied up with 8:42 to go.
Another turnover from MIN and that leads to an Irving lay up on the other end!
Timeout MIN with 9:25 to go in the 4th!
Doncic with the strip off the steal from his shoestrings and he lobbed it up for Jones for the huge alley oop!
Gobert got fouled by Doncic down low, and Gafford was called for a goaltend after coming in late and trying to block it. FT is good.
Gobert on the pick and roll fro Anderson and he finger rolls it up and in.
Jones on the drive and dump off for Gafford on the two handed slam!
Hardy in the corner and he starts the quarter with a three ball! That's a flurry of 10 second half points!
WE ARE HEADING TO THE FOURTH QUARTER WITH THE WOLVES LEADING BY 5.
Edwards in a rush and gets to the elbow for the mid range jumper just before the buzzer sounds!
Hardy taking it back to the cup off the dribble and lays it up and in.
Alexander-Walker silences the crowd with a three ball from the corner off the kickout from Edwards.
Hardy with the crossover at the top of the key and he explodes to the bucket for the two handed jam!
McDaniels answers back with a quick trigger three ball from the wing!
Three ball from Hardy in the corner off the Washington assist and we have a one point game!
Edwards was called for a foul in transition, and the Wolves wanted to challenge it but the challenge was unsuccessful.
Edwards swipes Hardy and takes it all the way for the steal and slam.
Reid slices through the defense, takes a bump lays it up and gets the foul! FT is no good after the foul on Washington.
Doncic finds Washington in the corner and he drills the three ball to tie the game up.
KAT just got called for an offensive foul after leaning into Washington on his attempted shot, and that's his fifth! He gets T'd up at first. The refs went to the review booth and reversed the call but the T on coach Finch stands. Kyrie hits the technical FT.
TImeout Mavericks with 5:39 to go in the 3rd quarter.
KAT jacks a three from the wing and drills it! It's an 8-0 run for MIN.
Edwards eurosteps to the rack and lays it up and in for his first bucket of the second half. He's got just 5 since the first quarter.
KAT got bumped on the baseline, hits the offbalanced jumper and got the foul on Jones. FT is good.
Irving steps into a three ball and drills it over McDaniels! The second half is Irving's time.
KAT going to the rack and soaring over the defense with the lay up on the right side.
Doncic got a wide open lane to the bucket and he lays it up and in gently off the glass.
McDaniels with the interception on Luka's pass to the corner, and he runs the break, gives it up for ANT and got it back for the dunk.
Another alley oop up for Gafford, this one from Doncic.
McDaniels drills a three ball from the corner off the kick out from Edwards.
Doncic steps back from outside the paint and hits the short jump over Edwards.
Lay from Luka to Gafford and he stretches to the rack for a lay up.
Washington finds Gafford down low and he slams it home from underneath.
KAT drives to the rack and finger rolls it off the glass to get us started.
WE ARE BACK IN DALLAS FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!
Kleber finally came back from his shoulder injury, and even though it may not be completely healed, he found ways to be productive.
Conley has been showing his experience in this elimination game. He's got 13 points to follow up ANT heading into half.
This was the only bucket of Edwards second quarter, and as he slowed down, the Wolves slowed down.
Exum had a spurt of five points at the start of the second quarter to help the Mavs pull closer to the Wolves.
The lead stretched to as much as 12 for MIN, but Jones was on the money from downtown. He's got 7 points at the half time break.
Luka was going blow for blow with Edwards in the first quarter. He had a flurry of 8 points in the first few minutes, but the Mavs trailed by double digits in the opening few minutes.
Rudy Gobert had a couple of nice plays on the offensive end in the first quarter but both he and KAT are heading to halftime with 3 fouls.
The Wolves needed their best player to step up tonight. Edwards answered the call early on. He set the tone out of the gate, scoring 14 points in the 1st quarter.
WE ARE HEADED TO HALFTIME FROM DALLAS WITH THE SCORE TIED AT 49-49!
Irving serves up an alley oop to Gafford and he skies up and throws it down.
Conley to the line after the foul on Jones and he hits both FTs.
Anderson ties the game up with a floater over Gafford in the paint.
Doncic to the line after the timeout and he hits both FTs.
Doncic heads to the line after the foul on Gobert, his third. He'll head to the line after a timeout from Dallas with 2:40 to go in the 1st half.
Alexander-Walker ties the game up with a three ball from the corner off the dish from Reid.
Jones to the line after the foul on McDaniels and he hits one of two FTs.
Doncic to the line after the foul on Edwards and he hits both FTs.
Jones with a second straight three ball from the corner off another kick out from Doncic!
Jones cuts the lead in half with a three ball from the corner off a kick out from Doncic.
Irving to the line after the foul on McDaniels and he hits both FTs.
Conley puts on the thrusters and blows past the defender for a lay up. He's got 10 on the night.
Kleber goes hard to the rack and he lays it up and in for his first points since his return to the court.
Conley with the offensive board and the put back off the missed Edwards three ball.
Gobert to the line after the foul on Kleber and he hits both FTs.
Doncic cuts into the lead with a step in three off the tip out rebound from Jones.
Kleber called for a defensive 3 seconds and KAT hits the FTs.
Edwards pull up from the wing and he drills the three! That's 17 for the 22 year old!
Conley drives down the left side and hangs it high off the glass for the lefy lay up.
Washington to the line after the foul on Edwards and he hits both FTs.
Exum strokes the wide open three ball from the corner and he's got five quick points.
Timeout Wolves with 9:43 to go after a 7-0 run from the Mavs.
Exum hits the shot put floater in the paint with the left hand over Conley.
Irving with a left floater over Gobert and its tear drops down.
Conley starts the quarter with a three ball from the top of the key off the offensive rebound from Alexander-Walker and the lead is back up to 10.
WE ARE HEADING TO THE SECOND QUARTER WITH THE WOLVES UP 7 POINTS.
Edwards and Luka went head to head early on. ANT has 14 of th 27 points for MIN while Doncic has 10 of the Mavs 20.
Reid fouls Green after he came up with a steal and ran the break. He hits both FTs with 0.2 on the clock.
Edwards to the line after the foul on Green and he hits one of two FTs.
Reid puts it on the deck and lays it up with the left hand high off the glass.
Green in the corner off the feed from Kleber and he drills the long ball.
Hardy drills a three ball from the top of the kick out from Irving!
Edwards gets into the lane and gets the short jumper to fall.
Edwards heads to the line after the foul on Kleber and he drills both FTs.
Doncic to the line after the foul on Anderson and he hits both FTs.
Timeout Timberwolves with 2:50 to go in the 1st quarter.
Edwards spots up and drills a three ball from the wing!
Gobert to the line after the foul on Powell and he hits one of two FTs.
Gobert spins and lays it off at the FT line for KAT who was slashing to the rack for the lay up.
Powell gave it away to Conley who ran the break and laid it off for Gobert for the transition lay up.
Edwards comes out of the timeout and hits a step back from the baseline. It's Luka vs. ANT early on.
Doncic on the step back and he drills the three ball! He's got 8 already!
Doncic was left alone at the elbow and pulled the trigger on the mid range jumper.
Edwards running the break and he goes right at the rack for a tough lay up in traffic.
Conley dribbles into the paint and gets the off balanced floater to go.
Edwards back to the line after the foul on Gafford, but he misses both FTs.
Edwards to the line after the foul on Jones and he hits both FTs to get on the board early on.
Offensive rebound from Jones knocked out to Doncic and he drills the spot up three ball over Conley!
KAT goes to the iron, felt some contact and got a tough lay up to fall off the glass.
McDaniels pulls up from the elbow and hits it over the outstretched arm of Gafford.
Kyrie gets his night started with a floater down the lane. He had 33 last game, and is off on the right foot tonight.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM DALLAS!!!
Wolves first five
The Timberwolves are in desperation mode, and tonight they are going with their top guns. It's the vet Mike Conley, with the star Anthony Edwards, joined by Jaden McDaniels, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert. They need a win tonight, and it would be a whole lot easier if they first five can get off on the right foot from Dallas.
Mavs starters
Derek Lively is out tonight but that doesn't change the fact that Jason Kidd has his best five available for tonight's game. It's Kyrie, Luka, Jones Jr., Washington and Gafford to start the night in this potential close out game from Dallas.
Sweeping through history?
The Dallas Mavericks are on the verge of making it to their third NBA Finals in franchise history. The first time they made it was back in 2006 when they took a 2-0 lead over the Miami Heat only to lose the next four games at the hands of Dwayne Wade and Shaquille O’Neal. Just five seasons later, the Mavs were back in the Finals taking on the Heat again. After dropping two of the first three, they rattled off three straight wins to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the first time ever. If Dallas win tonight, we will see something that has never happened in the history of the NBA: Two teams sweeping their opponents in the Conference Finals.
Dreary history of the 3-0 deficit
We all know the story. The Mavs know. The Wolves know. The fans tuning in tonight know. When NBA teams go down 3-0 in a series, you might as well bury them then and there. While technically it’s not impossible, statistics would say otherwise. In the history of the league, 154 teams have gone up 3-0 and 154 teams have won the series. It’s going to happen one of these days, and Minnesota has to be thinking that if they are going to have any chance at surviving. Perhaps they can take stock in some of the more miraculous comebacks in NHL or MLB history. It doesn’t happen all the time, but other sports have shown us it’s possible.
Lively out tonight, but not for long
One of the revelations of the Mavs season has been their rookie big man Derek Lively. He is an energy guy that comes off the bench, plays defense, enthralls the crowd with a mirage of spectacular dunks. He and Daniel Gafford have brought a new edge to this team that was needed desperately. They are big, strong, scrappy and love to defend the paint. Both are big parts of the Mavs success, but tonight the Mavs will be without Lively after he took a Karl-Anthony Towns knee to the back of the neck. He played just nine minutes in Game 4, and will miss tonight although the injury doesn’t appear that it will keep him out much more than that.
Dallas Duo back to their best
There was a time, not too long ago, when we were asking what was wrong with the Dallas Duo? There were averaging well under their regular season numbers in the last series against the Thunder, as PJ Washington and Derick Jones Jr. picked up the slack to help lead the Mavs to this stage of the playoffs. That “slump” if you want to call it that, didn’t last too long. They have been spectacular in this series, Luka is averaging 32.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists and Kyrie is getting 27.7 points, 4 rebounds and 4.7 assists a game. These guys have been in this situation before and their experience is starting to show. They have a great cast of role players around them, but when it’s time to kick it into gear the Dallas duo are ready for the spotlight.
Calling Mr. ANT Man
It’s easy to get caught up in the hype with Anthony Edwards. We expect the world from him while forgetting that he is just 22 years old and is going to need a little time, and experience. Even the GOAT, Michael Jordan, went through growing pains in his first few years in the league. It took MJ seven seasons before he won his first Larry O’Brien Trophy, Edwards is in year three. ANT is a fantastic player and is going to be one of the faces if not the face of the league one day. His scoring has gone down in this series, mostly because of the double teams he faces but his assists and rebounds have increased. He is averaging 27, 6, and 5 in the playoffs, while getting 22, 8 and 8 in this series. While he is going to need to get his guys involved throughout the game, the Wolves need to see the killer instinct we have seen from him in series past.
Game 3 recap
For the third straight game in this series, the Minnesota Timberwolves was in the game until the very end but it was Dallas who came out on top and brought themselves to within a game of the NBA Finals. Once again it was Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving leading the way against this young Wolves team that has had their chances at winning games in this series. Both of Dallas’ stars posted 33 points, but Anthony Edwards had 26 and and three other starters had 14 or more. Dallas led most of the way, but the Wolves took the lead early in the fourth before the teams went back and forth for the next few minutes. The Wolves would lose a 104-102 lead with 5:05 five to go, and score just three points the rest of the way as Doncic and Irving carried the Mavs to the finish line and take Game 3 116-107.
We are live from AAC
Hello everyone and welcome to Dallas where the Mavericks are back home with a chance to seal the series and and return to the NBA Finals 13 years after Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs beat LeBron James and the Miami Heat to win the franchises first title. Now it’s Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving trying to take down the up and coming Minnesota Timberwolves led by Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns. There was a time when the T’Wolves looked like the top team in the West after taking down the Denver Nuggets but the Mavs have handed them a huge dose of reality and the young Wolves have looked more than a little lost in the Conference Finals. Does Minnesota win and keep the series alive for another game or can the Mavs close it out on their home court tonight from American Airlines Center.
Timberwolves vs. Mavericks Game 4
For a second straight night, we have an elimination game on our hands. The Celtics closed out the Pacers in last night’s Game 4 from Indiana and tonight the Mavs have a chance to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time in over a decade. It’s Dallas taking on the desperate Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 from American Airlines Center and AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s potential knock out game from Big D.