DALLAS Mavericks relied on a huge endgame run to defeat Minnesota Timberwolves, 116-107, in Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference Finals on Sunday night (Monday in the Philippines) at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
With the score tied at 104-all, P.J. Washington connected a three-pointer for a 107-104 before it was followed with back-to-back hits from Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to widen the lead to 111-105.
Following misses from the Timberwolves, Daniel Gafford got a three-point play to increase the lead further to 114-105 before Irving sealed the win with two free throws.
Doncic led the way with 33 points, seven rebounds, five assists, five steals, and a block, while Irving contributed 33 points, four assists, and three rebounds for the Mavericks.
Washington contributed 16 points, eight rebounds, and two assists, and Derrick Jones Jr. ended with 11 points as the Mavericks took a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
The Mavericks were on the lead for most part of the opening half and were still up by double-digits in the third quarter before the Timberwolves went on a huge run behind Edwards to tie the score at 87-all.
Minnesota surged to a 92-89 edge to start the final quarter after a triple by Mike Conley and a two-pointer by Kyle Anderson, but Dallas answered with a triple from Irving and a basket from Doncic for a 94-all count.
Both teams traded leads since then until the Timberwolves moved up for the last time at 104-102 on back-to-back hits from Edwards and Anderson, before the Mavericks knotted the count at 104-all on a conversion by Irving.
Edwards led the way for the Timberwolves with 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, while Conley and Jalen McDaniels added 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Karl-Anthony Towns posted a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Naz Reid and Anderson came off-the-bench to deliver 14 and 10 markers, respectively./PN
BOX SCORE:
DALLAS 116 — Doncic 33, Irving 33, Washington 16, Jones 11, Hardy 7, Lively 6, Gafford 5, Green 3, Powell 2, Exum 0.
MINNESOTA 107 — Edwards 26, Conley 16, McDaniels 15, Towns 14, Reid 14, Anderson 10, Gobert 9, Alexander-Walker 3.
Quarterscores: 33-28, 60-52, 87-87, 116-107.
