Wolves defeat Mavs in Game 4 to stay alive in West finals
That one was about pride, and the next three are about history. The Minnesota Timberwolves remained alive in the Western Conference finals on Tuesday night, defeating the host Dallas Mavericks 105-100 thanks to Anthony Edwards' game-high 29 points and Karl-Anthony Towns' improved long-range shooting form.
The Timberwolves earned their first win in the best-of-seven series and will play Game 5 at home on Thursday night, hoping to become the first team in NBA history to rally and advance after trailing 3-0 in a playoff series.
Winning the series was not on the team's radar in Game 4, Edwards insisted later.
"We just wanted to get one game and extend the series," he said. "I've never been swept in my career. I didn't want to get swept. Not on their home court, hearing their fans talk trash all day."
The fifth-seeded Mavericks, who won the first two games of the series on their previous trip to Minneapolis, were led by Luka Doncic, who had 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists.
After Minnesota led by as many as 12 points early on, the teams battled evenly for the first 18 minutes of the second half, with a Towns 3-pointer with 5:41 left giving the Timberwolves a 92-90 lead.
The visitors never trailed again, thanks in large part to Towns' 3-pointer on Minnesota's next possession, which extended the lead to five points.
Dallas' best chance to tie the game late came when Doncic missed a 3-pointer with 3:18 remaining.
With 2:54 remaining, Towns connected from beyond the arc again, and Edwards followed with a bank shot in the lane 67 seconds later, putting the Timberwolves ahead 100-92.
"That was on me," shouldered Doncic. "(I) didn't give enough energy."
Doncic's desperate 3-pointer as he was fouled with 13.2 seconds left kept the Mavericks in the game at 103-100, but he missed the ensuing free throw.
After a timeout, Naz Reid got behind Dallas' defence for a game-clinching layup with 11.3 seconds left.
"We'd never lost three in a row until earlier in the playoffs. We've never lost four in a row," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. "The guys responded. Fun team to coach because they always believe they can win no matter what."
The Timberwolves were outscored 10-3, 6-0, and 14-3 at the end of their first three games, resulting in three-, one-, and nine-point losses.
They are now 3-0 in possible elimination games this postseason.
Edwards' personal series high point total was part of a near-triple-double. He also managed to grab a team-high ten rebounds and nine assists.
After missing 19 of his 22 3-point attempts in the first three games of the series, Towns made four of five before fouling out for 25 points. He made nine of his 13 total shots.
The big man had gone 22-for-50 on threes in the first two series.
Rudy Gobert matched Edwards' 10 rebounds while also completing a double-double with 13 points for third-seeded Minnesota, while Mike Conley scored 14 and Jaden McDaniels added 10.
Kyrie Irving was held to 16 points on 6-for-18 shooting from the field, while Jaden Hardy had 13, Daniel Gafford had 12 to go with eight rebounds and three blocks, and P.J. Washington added 10.
At halftime, the game was tied 49-all, with Edwards and Doncic leading their respective teams with 17 points. Minnesota was up 78-73 entering the fourth quarter.
"They won one game," Doncic said. "We got to focus on the next one."
SportsLigue