We wanted suspense and why not a Game 6, and instead, we got a blowout. The first of the series, and the last since the Mavericks clinched their place in the NBA final by winning 124 – 103 on the Wolves floor. So dashing for a month and a half, Anthpny Edwards’ teammates exploded against the talent of Luka Doncic. It’s quite simple, after ten minutes of play, the Mavericks lead 30-18, and Doncic, alone, has already scored 20 points!
Like a boxer, the Slovenian pummeled the Wolves from the first round, and after resisting for five minutes, Rudy Gobert’s partners gave in. They conceded a 13-0 in four minutes, and Dallas escaped: 35-19 at the end of the first quarter. The Wolves are groggy and Maxi Kleber pushes them a little further with a 3-pointer to give them a 21-point lead. The Target Center is silent and Irving has taken over from Doncic at the scoring. While touching, he challenges Rudy Gobert (46-23).
The Mavericks at +29 at halftime!
As in Game 4, Karl-Anthony Towns holds the house. It’s great Towns but it lacks support, and after coming back below 20 points (52-36), Minnesota cracks again. A 15-2 orchestrated by the Doncic-Irving duo cuts their legs again, and at the break, there is a 29-point difference (69-40)!
And when we return from the locker room, things get worse again. It’s PJ Washington at the alley-oop, then at 3-points, who gives the Mavericks the biggest gap of the match: +36 (82-46). There are 20 minutes left to play and we say to ourselves that the Wolves will come out of the playoffs with a terrible humiliation. But Towns, again, hangs on. At 3-point or in penetration, he proves that he has a huge heart. The Wolves reduce the gap, but with each close encounter, Irving or Doncic cool the room. For Irving, it’s 3-pointers. For Doncic, it is by tirelessly provoking the defense, even though it is stuck to him. At the start of the 4th quarter, the Wolves returned to -24 (97-73).
Edwards too personal
The fans at the Target Center believed (a little) in the feat when Anthony Edwards brought his team to -21, then covered Irving. But… this same Irving is on tap to give Dallas some air (103-78). As Naz Reid misses easy shots and Edwards dribbles too much, Dallas can manage its lead rather calmly. Moreover, Luka Doncic will wait until the 5th minute of the 4th quarter to come back into play. And when he comes back, it is to score a 3-pointer with the board (111-85). This is the final blow. Especially since the game ends with a 3-point contest from Kyle Anderson in the corner. The winger misses everything, and three minutes from the end, Micah Nori empties his bench. The Mavericks are in the NBA finals!
What you must remember
– Doncic on cloud nine. Snoop Dogg may nod his head, but there was nothing to do against Luka Doncic last night. The Slovenian is not far from achieving the perfect first quarter with his 20 points, and this mastery of time, but also his reading of the two-handed shots. All evening, Doncic thwarted Minnesota’s defensive plans. A real demonstration, and he didn’t stop teasing his opponents and the public. A real “slaphead”, but so talented!
– McDaniels’ mistakes. So good on defense in Game 4 on Kyrie Irving, Jaden McDaniels made mistakes very quickly in the match. And each time we returned to the field, it was for a few minutes. Long deprived of their winger, the Wolves have not found a solution to limit Irving.
– An unprecedented finale. From June 6, the Mavericks will challenge the Celtics, and this will be a first in NBA history. Finalists in 2022, the Celtics will try to win an 18th banner, while the Mavericks are aiming for a second title, 13 years after that won by Dirk Nowitzki and his troops, including Jason Kidd and Tyson Chandler still at the club.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
