By Rashad Miller, The Uncool Urban
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday night after missing the opportunity to sweep the T-Wolves two nights prior. Mavericks guard Luka Doncic began the game scorching the Timberwolvesโ defense with a 20-point performance in the first quarter, going 8 for 11 from the field including 4 for 6 from the perimeter. The onslaught would just continue for Dallas as Minnesota had no answer for the Mavericks in the second quarter, making way for Kyrie Irving to score a perfect 5 for 5 shots, giving him 15 points in the quarter and 19 going into the half.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points in the third, but that wouldnโt be enough to get him and the Timberwolves over the deficit. Despite both Towns and Minnesota guard Anthony Edwardsโ 28 point performances, the Mavericks dominated the Timberwolves, 124-103. This is Dallasโ third appearance in the Finals and the first since winning the title in 2011. Coach Jason Kidd would go to the podium to talk about the effort his team put in after their previous performance. โComing back after not a great game in Game 4, [the team] responded at a high level and it carried us tonight. A great team effort. It’s great to be on top of the Western Conference. Minnesota is well coached; they are a good team. We are just happy to represent the Western Conference in The Finals.”
Kyrie Irving and Luka Donฤiฤ both finished with similar stat lines of 36 points and 5 assists each. The duo were the first pair of teammates to score 35 plus points in a Conference Finals game since Shaquille OโNeal and the late Kobe Bryant did so in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs in 2001. Donฤic (28.8) and Irving (22.8) are also the first backcourt to combine for 50 plus points per game entering the Finals since Trailblazers legends Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter in 1992.
Irving, whose last Finals appearance was in 2017, said that โit’s been a long time coming. We obviously are going to enjoy this but also understand it’s just a ‘pit stop’ in the journey. We need to get ready for that ‘court turning gold’, as I like to say. The shoes turn gold, the jerseys turn gold, and as a kid, that’s what you dream of. To be competing against the best of the best with the whole world watching.”
Luka Donฤiฤ was named Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP. Doncic averaged 32.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists in the series. Donฤiฤ is the fifth player in NBA history to lead his team in points, rebounds, and assists going into the Finals.
The Mavericks are off to Boston this Wednesday to face the Celtics in the NBA Finals. The schedule is as follows and all of the games are broadcasted exclusively on ABC.
| Game | Date | Time |
| 1: @ BOS | Thu. June 6 | 7:30PM/CST |
| 2: @ BOS | Sun. June 9 | 7PM/CST |
| 3: VS. BOS | Wed. June 12 | 7:30PM/CST |
| 4: VS. BOS | Fri. June 14 | 7:30PM/CST |
| 5: @ BOS* | Mon. June 17 | 7:30PM/CST |
| 6: VS. BOS* | Thu. June 20 | 7:30PM/CST |
| 7: @ BOS* | Sun. June 23 | 7:30PM/CST |
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