Mavericks survive Wolves in second leg of conference finals

MINNEAPOLIS – The last time the Mavericks were in this building, they were drinking cold beer and holding aloft the Western Conference championship trophy.

The atmosphere on Tuesday evening was different.

The result was not.

The Mavericks overcame a scare with Luka Dončić late in the first half and then reaffirmed their determination to earn a 120-114 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.

Despite a leg problem that sent him to the locker room late in the first half, Dončić hit a 32-foot 3-pointer — he was 0-for-7 from distance to that point — to give the Mavericks an eight-point lead with 1 left: 04, a lead they extended to the finish line, increasing their record to 3-1.

“I don’t know how I can make these shots and non-normal shots,” Dončić said. “I just need to get the rust out. And I'll be back. We won and that’s all that matters.”

Throughout the postgame in the Mavericks' locker room, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that Dončić would hit the three-pointer that put the Wolves on the defensive.

“We expected this to come in,” Kyrie Irving said. “The shots he takes at the end of the game, he doesn’t shoot particularly well, but we know how competitive he is. When you have a guy like that, especially in the fourth quarter. . . I knew it was a great shot.”

Coach Jason Kidd said: “He hadn't shot the ball well, maybe not to his standards, and then he gets injured. “He comes back and finds a way. When it comes to competition, there is no one better. That's why he enjoyed having this opportunity.

“If you look at Luka, we’ve seen this film before and he loves the opportunity to win the game. He’s not afraid and made a big splash.”

Luka would finish with 24 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, but Irving was the savior for the Mavericks that night with 35 points, 25 of them in the second half when Luka was somewhat out of action after the injury.

“We have me, Klay (Thompson), Kai. These two guys, anyone can try,” Dončić said. “Sometimes they double us when someone is hot, and in this situation they doubled Kai, so I had the opportunity to shoot it. I have to thank Kai.”

Dončić left the game with 1:10 left in the second quarter when he was accidentally hit in the right leg by Jaden McDaniels' knee. He quickly clutched the back of his right leg and demanded to leave the game as he limped toward the locker room.

It was a huge relief when he came back to warm up and the third quarter began.

While he obviously wasn't in perfect form, Luka helped steady the Mavericks after they fell behind 69-61 early in the third quarter. Towards the end of the quarter they took an 80-73 lead.

That was part of a 27-8 blitz that gave the Mavericks an 88-77 lead later in the quarter.

But as things progressed things got tight. The Wolves pulled within 109-107 with 3:04 remaining on two free throws from Rudy Gobert.

Irving saved them, as he had done most of the evening, with a three-pointer and a five-point cushion. The teams exchanged shots and with 1:04 left, Luka reared up from 32 feet and threw his game-winning goal.

The game seemed a little more exciting since it was the first meeting between the two teams that fought for the conference title last season. It was clear to the players that the game had a greater advantage.

“There’s nothing better than being able to play against a team like that because you know where you need to get better,” Irving said. “We know that going forward we will have the best performance from any player, especially Minnesota or OKC or whoever we played on the way to the Western Conference championship.”

Luka added: “We are 3-1. We're really nowhere near our highest level. Not even close. But our defense outside of the Phoenix game was good.”

At first, it seemed like the Timberwolves had more memories of last season's playoffs than the Mavericks. Minnesota clearly played with anger in the first meeting between the two teams this season.

They knew that when Anthony Edwards coached them to 24 points in the first quarter.

“We could tell by the way Anthony Edwards started the game that it was very personal for him,” Irving said. “So you have to dial it in and be ready to take some hits. After the first quarter we were only eight points behind, so we felt like we were in a good position.”

The Mavericks weren't quite as focused on the past.

“That was last year,” coach Jason Kidd said. “This is a different year. This is a different team. They are a different team. The last time we were here we were Western Conference champions, but this is a new season.”

And for Luka it was like returning to the crime scene. The fans in Minnesota are notoriously on his side throughout the game when the Mavericks play here.

Of course that makes it sweet too.

“I’ve heard a lot,” Luka said. “They really like me here. Last year was fun. It was a big moment in my career and my life. So it was fun to be back here.”

What do the Timberwolves remember most from last season's West Finals?

“The 400 lob dunks come to mind,” coach Chris Finch said. “We know that with Luka and Kyrie it takes a lot of mental strength to play the whole game because they make you pay for every mistake as soon as it happens.

“Luka is such a great player, he makes everyone around him so much better.”

And because of Luka's size, the results haven't changed from last spring, even though he was physically below average.

X: @ESefko