Anthony Edwards turned it on within the second half on Sunday evening in an try to maintain the Minnesota Timberwolves’ season alive.
His run, although, got here simply a bit too late.
Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks, after largely shutting down Edwards and the Timberwolves early, held on down the stretch to declare a 116-107 win in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals on the American Airlines Center on Sunday. That pushed the Mavericks to a commanding 3-0 lead within the collection, which now has them simply a single win away from making their first NBA Finals look since 2011.
Dončić and Kyrie Irving had one more robust outing collectively, too, The duo mixed for 66 factors within the win for Dallas, and so they helped spark a 14-3 run to shut out the sport and the nine-point win. Irving hit a big contested nook 3-pointer throughout that run, which all-but pushed Minnesota out of attain.
Dončić has averaged 32.7 factors per recreation to date within the Western Conference finals, and Irving has scored no less than 30 factors in two of their three wins.
Mavericks bounce up early, lose Dereck Lively
The Mavericks jumped up shortly over the Timberwolves after a robust first half, however they misplaced heart Dereck Lively within the course of.
Lively, who has shot a excellent 13-of-13 from the sphere to date this collection, dominated but once more inside to kick off Game 3. He even threw down a huge dunk over Rudy Gobert within the first quarter.
But early within the second quarter, Lively took an inadvertent knee to the again of his head within the paint from Karl Anthony-Towns. That despatched him down to the court docket exhausting, the place he remained curled up in a ball clearly unwell for fairly a while. Eventually, he was helped off the court docket very slowly.
Lively was thought of questionable to return at halftime with a neck sprain, and he was finally dominated out. He completed with six factors and three rebounds. It’s unclear how lengthy he’ll be out, however his standing for Game 4 is completely unsure.
Despite dropping Lively, the Mavericks pushed forward to a 60-52 lead at halftime after a mini Minnesota run to shut out the interval. Towns was principally a nonexistent issue for the Timberwolves offensively within the first half. He went 0-of-7 from the sphere to begin the sport, and completed the half with 5 factors whereas taking pictures 0-of-5 from behind the arc. The Timberwolves shot simply 4-of-16 from the 3-point line as a staff, too. Dončić and Irving, nevertheless, mixed for 29 factors for Dallas.
Edwards retains TWolves alive
Finally, thanks to Edwards, the Timberwolves made it a recreation within the third quarter.
They went on a fast 13-3 run within the interval and tied the sport up simply past the halfway level. Edwards had 10 of his 26 factors within the third quarter alone, and he threw down what may simply be the most effective dunks of your entire season over Daniel Gafford within the course of. The nonetheless photograph from proper earlier than the dunk was actually unbelievable.
While that saved them in it, Edwards’ burst wasn’t sufficient.
After bouncing backwards and forwards all through the ultimate interval, the Mavericks lastly pulled away for good. They ended the sport on a 14-3 burst, powered by clutch nook 3-pointers from P.J. Washington and Irving, to lastly seal the nine-point win. Minnesota was held to only one area purpose within the ultimate 5 minutes of the sport, too, which got here within the type of an Edwards layup within the ultimate seconds.
Edwards completed simply shy of a triple-double for Minnesota. He had 26 factors, 9 assists and 9 rebounds whereas taking pictures 11-of-24 from the sphere. Mike Conley added 16 factors, and Towns completed with 14 factors and 11 rebounds.
Dončić led the way in which with 33 factors, seven rebounds and 5 assists. for Dallas. Irving added 33 factors and 4 assists whereas taking pictures 12-of-20 from the sphere. The duo mixed for 20 factors within the fourth quarter alone, too. Washington completed 16 factors and eight rebounds. The Mavericks shot 16-of-28 from the 3-point line as a staff, too.
Game 4 of the collection is ready for Tuesday evening in Dallas. A win there wouldn’t solely full the collection sweep, however it might ship the Mavericks into the Finals for the primary time since they gained a title within the Dirk Nowitzki period. And, maybe extra importantly, it might safe a few further days of relaxation earlier than that collection kicks off. With Lively’s harm and Dončić’s lingering knee harm, they may positively use it.