NBA
Towns postpones Doncic’s dream: “That game is on me”
Doncic assumed responsibility as the Mavericks missed their first opportunity to get into the NBA final, losing at home to the Timberwolves.
Luka Donic cut a somber figure as he mulled over Tuesday’s 100-105 defeat to the Timberwolves. The Mavericks guard finished the game with 28 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists - his sixth triple double of the playoffs but assumed responsibility for the defeat at the American Airlines Center in another closely-fought contest.
The Timberwolves forced a fifth game at the Target Center in which Chris Finch’s team will continue to hang by a thread but full of confidence. Doncic and company are just one victory away from making the final and that test will arrive in the next 48 hours. A downcast Doncic put the blame on a lack of energy although without his leadership, it could have ended much worse.
Doncic reflects on Timberwolves defeat
“I think that game is on me. I just didn’t give enough energy. So we gotta do better. They won one game we’ve just got to focus on the next one,” Doncic told reporters after the game. “Always got to believe. I believe til the end, so... it was close again but we couldn’t, so they won the game but as I said, we just gotta focus on the next one. We won three games, like I say, it’s the first of four. No matter if you win in four or in seven - you just gotta win four”.
The Mavs were without Dereck Lively II, who suffered a sprained neck in the previous game, and Doncic admitted they noticed the rookie center’s absence. “He’s a big piece to our defense and offense so we miss him a lot”. Another important in Minnesota’s win was Karl-Anthony Towns, who Jason Kidd’s team struggled to contain and gave too much time. For Towns, the night ended with 25 points, five rebounds and an assist. “There was two big, big 3s for them so that was really clutch, so we’ve got to do a better job on him,” Doncic conceded.
While the Celtics finished the job off early and await their rivals in the finals, the Mavs efforts to join them continue. Doncic knows that Dallas have missed a chance to close the series - one which will now go to five games or more, meaning that even if they do make it to the final, Boston will have had more days to rest - nine days compared to at least six.
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