Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving each score 33 points as Mavs beat Wolves for 3-0 lead in West finals
DALLAS (AP) Luka Doncic lunged for the ball after a steal by Anthony Edwards, knocking it far enough away to create a scramble and a jump ball the Dallas superstar won.
The Mavericks made all the big plays again - on both ends of the court - and are a win away from their first trip to the NBA Finals in 13 years.
Doncic and Kyrie Irving scored 33 points apiece and Dallas put together a decisive run in the final five minutes to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-107 on Sunday night for a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.
The 14-3 finish gave the Mavs a fifth consecutive playoff victory after Dereck Lively II left with a sprained neck when the rookie center took an accidental shot to the back of the head from Karl-Anthony Towns' knee.
No team in NBA playoff history has rallied from 3-0 down.
“Don’t even say it,” said Doncic, who will try to clinch his first trip to the NBA Finals in Game 4 on Tuesday night in Dallas. “But it feels great. But we’ve got to think about next game. Gotta play with the same mentality. They’re not going to go away. No way.”
P.J. Washington Jr., who scored 16 points, put Dallas ahead for good on a tiebreaking corner 3-pointer with 3:38 remaining after Doncic passed to Irving, who sent the ball to Washington.
The co-stars took over from there.
Doncic hit a shot in the lane for a four-point lead, Irving sent the crowd into a frenzy on a falling-down jumper and Doncic found Daniel Gafford for an alley-oop dunk and a 113-105 lead with 34 seconds left. Gafford had just blocked Mike Conley's layup attempt at the other end.
“They’re trying to double me the whole game, trying to double Kai, so that just makes us better,” Doncic said. “Everybody touches the ball, everybody plays. We come down to the stretch, and we execute.”
Edwards had 26 points for the Wolves, but just four after scoring eight consecutive points for Minnesota to get the Wolves even in the third quarter.
“I never think the sky is falling,” Edwards said. “I’m always positive, always happy. Been through the works, so the sky’s never falling for me.”
Towns scored 14 points but missed all eight 3s, including a rushed 27-footer early in the shot clock when the deficit was four with 1:25 remaining.
After taking a 104-102 lead on Kyle Anderson's floater with five minutes to go, Minnesota - which couldn't hold leads of 18 points in the first half and five points in the final 90 seconds of Game 2 - missed seven consecutive shots.
“You've got to try to score alongside of them,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said. “The whole series, we’ve struggled to close games. These three-minutes games that we’re playing, we’re losing.”
Doncic, whose game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds of Game 2 in Minnesota put Dallas firmly in control of the series, was 10 of 20 and 5 of 11 from deep.
Irving, who won the 2016 title alongside LeBron James with Cleveland, scored 14 points in the fourth quarter and finished 12 of 20 and 3 of 6 from long range.
The Mavs, with 2011 NBA Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki watching from center court, are the closest they've been to the NBA's biggest stage since the big German led them to their only championship.
Edwards was 11 of 24, but took just three shots in the fourth quarter, making two. The 22-year-old star who has acknowledged fatigue in the series had nine rebounds and nine assists.
“We can’t be anything but positive at this point,” Edwards said. “We can’t be negative. Try to get one win at a time.”
In the second quarter, Lively absorbed the kind of contact normally found on football fields not far from Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, the quarterback-tight end pair sitting courtside.
The rookie from Duke stayed on the court holding his head after it snapped forward on the accidental contact. Lively was down for several minutes before appearing dazed as he was helped off the court and taken to the locker room.
Lively fell as Mike Conley, who scored 16 points, was driving for a missed shot, and Towns was pursuing an offensive rebound when his knee hit Lively’s head in the second quarter.
The 20-year-old Lively and Gafford, the starter, played a big role in helping Dallas take a 2-0 lead. Lively is 12 of 12 from the field in the series, including three makes in Game 3.
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This story has been updated to correct the Mavericks' final run to 14-3 instead of 12-3.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Rudy Gobert vs. Daniel Gafford (P.J. Washington gains possession) | |||
11:40 | Kyrie Irving turnover (out of bounds step) | |||
11:21 | Daniel Gafford blocks Karl-Anthony Towns's two point driving dunk | |||
11:18 | P.J. Washington defensive rebound | |||
11:09 | Daniel Gafford turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
10:45 | +2 | Mike Conley makes two point cutting layup (Rudy Gobert assists) | 2-0 | |
10:32 | +3 | P.J. Washington makes three point jump shot (Daniel Gafford assists) | 2-3 | |
10:16 | +3 | Mike Conley makes three point jump shot (Rudy Gobert assists) | 5-3 | |
9:55 | +3 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes three point jump shot (P.J. Washington assists) | 5-6 | |
9:43 | Anthony Edwards turnover (bad pass) (Luka Doncic steals) | |||
9:42 | Jaden McDaniels personal foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | |||
9:27 | +3 | Luka Doncic makes three point stepback jump shot | 5-9 | |
9:11 | Anthony Edwards misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:10 | P.J. Washington defensive rebound | |||
9:04 | Luka Doncic misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
9:00 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
8:54 | Mike Conley misses three point jump shot | |||
8:51 | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | |||
8:44 | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | |||
8:41 | Derrick Jones Jr. offensive rebound | |||
8:39 | Kyrie Irving misses three point jump shot | |||
8:39 | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | |||
8:28 | Daniel Gafford shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | |||
8:28 | Anthony Edwards misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
8:28 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
8:28 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 6-9 | |
8:08 | Mike Conley shooting foul (Kyrie Irving draws the foul) | |||
8:08 | +1 | Kyrie Irving makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 6-10 | |
8:08 | +1 | Kyrie Irving makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 6-11 | |
7:44 | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving floating jump shot | 8-11 | |
7:36 | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | |||
7:33 | Dereck Lively II offensive rebound | |||
7:29 | Kyrie Irving turnover (lost ball) (Mike Conley steals) | |||
7:24 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses two point floating jump shot | |||
7:22 | P.J. Washington defensive rebound | |||
7:17 | Kyrie Irving misses two point running finger roll layup | |||
7:15 | Dereck Lively II offensive rebound | |||
7:10 | +2 | P.J. Washington makes two point driving finger roll layup (Kyrie Irving assists) | 8-13 | |
6:53 | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Mike Conley assists) | 10-13 | |
6:35 | +2 | Dereck Lively II makes two point dunk (Derrick Jones Jr. assists) | 10-15 | |
6:14 | +3 | Jaden McDaniels makes three point jump shot (Karl-Anthony Towns assists) | 13-15 | |
6:01 | Jaden McDaniels kicked ball violation | |||
6:01 | Mavericks 60 second timeout | |||
5:54 | +2 | Dereck Lively II makes two point cutting dunk (Luka Doncic assists) | 13-17 | |
5:35 | Dereck Lively II blocks Anthony Edwards's two point driving floating jump shot | |||
5:33 | Dereck Lively II defensive rebound | |||
5:28 | +2 | Dereck Lively II makes two point alley-oop dunk (Luka Doncic assists) | 13-19 | |
5:07 | Josh Green shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | |||
5:07 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-19 | |
5:07 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-19 | |
4:45 | Jaden Hardy misses two point driving layup | |||
4:44 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
4:39 | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point running pullup jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 17-19 | |
4:26 | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point stepback jump shot | 17-21 | |
4:12 | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point pullup jump shot (Naz Reid assists) | 19-21 | |
4:04 | Rudy Gobert personal foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | |||
3:56 | Luka Doncic misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
3:53 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker defensive rebound | |||
3:42 | Anthony Edwards misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:40 | Jaden Hardy defensive rebound | |||
3:36 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker shooting foul (Jaden Hardy draws the foul) | |||
3:36 | +1 | Jaden Hardy makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-22 | |
3:36 | +1 | Jaden Hardy makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 19-23 | |
3:17 | Dereck Lively II shooting foul (Naz Reid draws the foul) | |||
3:17 | +1 | Naz Reid makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-23 | |
3:17 | +1 | Naz Reid makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-23 | |
3:08 | +3 | Luka Doncic makes three point stepback jump shot | 21-26 | |
2:56 | Jaden Hardy personal foul (Jaden McDaniels draws the foul) | |||
2:56 | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | |||
2:46 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses three point jump shot | |||
2:43 | Naz Reid offensive rebound | |||
2:38 | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | |||
2:36 | Jaden Hardy defensive rebound | |||
2:17 | Kyle Anderson blocks Luka Doncic's three point stepback jump shot | |||
2:14 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
2:08 | +2 | Kyle Anderson makes two point driving floating jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 23-26 | |
1:57 | Daniel Gafford offensive foul (Off the ball) (Naz Reid draws the foul) | |||
1:57 | Daniel Gafford turnover (offensive foul) | |||
1:46 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | |||
1:43 | Josh Green defensive rebound | |||
1:31 | +3 | Kyrie Irving makes three point jump shot (Josh Green assists) | 23-29 | |
1:07 | Naz Reid misses two point driving hook shot | |||
1:07 | Mavericks defensive rebound | |||
0:52 | Naz Reid personal foul (Derrick Jones Jr. draws the foul) | |||
0:52 | +1 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-30 | |
0:52 | +1 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-31 | |
0:39 | Kyle Anderson turnover (bad pass) (Luka Doncic steals) | |||
0:35 | Luka Doncic turnover (lost ball) (Anthony Edwards steals) | |||
0:32 | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point running dunk (Kyle Anderson assists) | 25-31 | |
0:20 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point driving finger roll layup (Dereck Lively II assists) | 25-33 | |
0:00 | +3 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 28-33 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:45 | Dereck Lively II shooting foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | |||
11:45 | Mavericks 60 second timeout | |||
11:45 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
11:45 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
11:45 | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-33 | |
11:32 | Kyrie Irving misses three point jump shot | |||
11:29 | P.J. Washington offensive rebound | |||
11:15 | +2 | Jaden Hardy makes two point stepback jump shot (Dante Exum assists) | 29-35 | |
10:54 | +2 | Naz Reid makes two point driving layup (Mike Conley assists) | 31-35 | |
10:36 | Jaden Hardy offensive foul (Mike Conley draws the foul) | |||
10:36 | Jaden Hardy turnover (offensive foul) | |||
10:23 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
10:21 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
10:21 | Jaden Hardy personal foul (Loose ball) (Kyle Anderson draws the foul) | |||
10:15 | Anthony Edwards misses two point jump shot | |||
10:14 | Mavericks defensive rebound | |||
10:14 | Karl-Anthony Towns personal foul (Loose ball) (P.J. Washington draws the foul) | |||
10:01 | +3 | Josh Green makes three point jump shot (Dereck Lively II assists) | 31-38 | |
9:37 | +2 | Naz Reid makes two point driving finger roll layup (Anthony Edwards assists) | 33-38 | |
9:23 | +3 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes three point jump shot (Josh Green assists) | 33-41 | |
9:14 | Kyle Anderson offensive foul (Off the ball) (Josh Green draws the foul) | |||
9:14 | Kyle Anderson turnover (offensive foul) | |||
9:14 | Kyle Anderson technical foul | |||
9:14 | Kyrie Irving misses technical free throw 1 of 1 | |||
9:14 | Mavericks offensive rebound | |||
9:02 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point pullup jump shot | 33-43 | |
8:37 | Mike Conley misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
8:35 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
8:22 | Mike Conley misses three point jump shot | |||
8:20 | Daniel Gafford defensive rebound | |||
8:05 | Kyrie Irving misses three point jump shot | |||
8:02 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
7:52 | Derrick Jones Jr. personal foul (Jaden McDaniels draws the foul) | |||
7:45 | Anthony Edwards misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
7:43 | Mike Conley offensive rebound | |||
7:40 | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | |||
7:36 | Rudy Gobert offensive rebound | |||
7:35 | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point putback layup | 35-43 | |
7:19 | Rudy Gobert personal foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | |||
7:08 | Luka Doncic misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
7:06 | Timberwolves defensive rebound | |||
6:51 | +3 | Jaden McDaniels makes three point jump shot (Naz Reid assists) | 38-43 | |
6:36 | +3 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes three point jump shot (Luka Doncic assists) | 38-46 | |
6:15 | Jaden McDaniels misses two point driving layup | |||
6:12 | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | |||
6:03 | +2 | P.J. Washington makes two point driving floating jump shot (Derrick Jones Jr. assists) | 38-48 | |
5:53 | Derrick Jones Jr. personal foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | |||
5:44 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | |||
5:40 | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | |||
5:31 | Jaden McDaniels shooting foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | |||
5:31 | +1 | Luka Doncic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 38-49 | |
5:31 | +1 | Luka Doncic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 38-50 | |
5:08 | Anthony Edwards misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
5:05 | Jaden McDaniels offensive rebound | |||
4:59 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | |||
4:57 | Anthony Edwards offensive rebound | |||
4:56 | Anthony Edwards misses two point tip layup | |||
4:56 | Anthony Edwards offensive rebound | |||
4:55 | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point tip layup | 40-50 | |
4:45 | Kyrie Irving misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
4:41 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
4:39 | Anthony Edwards offensive foul (Charge) (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | |||
4:39 | Anthony Edwards turnover (offensive foul) | |||
4:39 | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | |||
4:19 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point driving floating jump shot | 40-52 | |
4:03 | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point cutting dunk (Karl-Anthony Towns assists) | 42-52 | |
3:43 | Luka Doncic misses three point jump shot | |||
3:41 | Josh Green offensive rebound | |||
3:38 | Dwight Powell misses two point cutting layup | |||
3:37 | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | |||
3:26 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | |||
3:23 | Kyrie Irving defensive rebound | |||
3:11 | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | |||
3:08 | Luka Doncic offensive rebound | |||
3:01 | P.J. Washington misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
2:59 | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | |||
2:44 | Anthony Edwards turnover (bad pass) (Dwight Powell steals) | |||
2:25 | Luka Doncic misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
2:20 | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | |||
2:15 | Dwight Powell shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | |||
2:15 | Anthony Edwards misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
2:15 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
2:15 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 43-52 | |
2:05 | +3 | Kyrie Irving makes three point pullup jump shot | 43-55 | |
1:44 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving layup (Anthony Edwards assists) | 45-55 | |
1:35 | Daniel Gafford turnover (traveling) | |||
1:20 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving layup | 47-55 | |
1:05 | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point turnaround jump shot | 47-57 | |
0:55 | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point cutting layup (Karl-Anthony Towns assists) | 49-57 | |
0:43 | +3 | Luka Doncic makes three point jump shot (Kyrie Irving assists) | 49-60 | |
0:29 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | |||
0:27 |