The Western Conference championship trophy in one hand and the MVP trophy for the conference finals in the other, Luka Dončić showed a little bit of his inner Dirk Nowitzki after closing out the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was 13 years ago when Nowitzki hopped over the scorer’s table at American Airlines Center and skittered out […]
MINNEAPOLIS – As Luka Dončić rapidly scored 12 points in the first 3½ minutes of Thursday’s Game 5 at Target Center, Daniel Gafford’s head was processing a thought that was equal parts pity and amazement. Pity for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Amazement at a special talent like Luka. “I knew it was going to be a […]
MINNEAPOLIS – For Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, Thursday was a night of redemption. A night to exhale. The last time Irving played in the NBA Finals was 2017 when his Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Golden State Warriors in five games. Since then, Irving spent two seasons with the Boston Celtics and three-and-a-half seasons […]
MINNEAPOLIS – For the third time in the Mavericks’ 44-year history, they are headed to the NBA Finals. And for the first time, Luka Dončić will be showcasing his massive skills on basketball’s biggest stage. Judging by Thursday night, he’s more than ready. The Mavericks made quick work of the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 […]
MINNEAPOLIS – The Mavericks won’t know for sure about the availability of Dereck Lively II until close to gametime on Thursday, but what is certain is that they dodged a bullet. When the back of Lively’s head collided sharply with Karl-Anthony Towns’ knee, the gasp inside American Airlines Center spoke volumes. It looked bad. Could […]
What we have here in the Western Conference finals is a prime example of the oldest and most accurate description of the NBA. It’s a make-or-miss league. On Tuesday in Game 4, the Minnesota Timberwolves made. The Mavericks missed. That’s an oversimplification, of course. There are many reasons why the Wolves made 53 percent of […]
While he showed up for the first time in this series on Tuesday, Minnesota forward Karl-Anthony Towns decided to pause to pay homage to the Timberwolves’ defense for their sterling performance against the Dallas Mavericks. It was that stern defense which was the backdrop to the Timberwolves’ stunning 105-100 victory over the Mavs in Game […]
With the Mavericks plugging away and working to cut into a Minnesota lead in the third quarter, Jaden Hardy thought the team – and the crowd – could use a little jolt. So he sized up the Wolves’ Kyle Anderson as he crossed midcourt, saw that there wasn’t much help coming defensively and decided to […]
Karl-Anthony Towns broke out of a shooting slump Tuesday night, and his performance meant the Minnesota Timberwolves have lived to see another day. Towns scored 25 points and snatched five rebounds as the Timberwolves stayed alive in the Western Conference Finals by scoring a surprising 105-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. […]
It’s been 13 long years since the Mavericks were in the NBA Finals. But the core of the group that brought home the championship in 2011 hasn’t forgotten what it’s like. And they have been there to support Jason Kidd and this new generation of Mavericks. Kidd said before Game 4 of the Western Conference […]