Dallas Mavericks vs Minnesota Timberwolves Game Player Stats and Box Scores for May 30 | 2024 NBA Playoffs Game 5
After failing to bring out the broom in Game 4, the Dallas Mavericks completed a gentleman's sweep of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. Minnesota's defense was the highly-touted force in the matchup, but it was Dallas who outplayed them on that end. The Mavericks, led by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, sent the Timberwolves home after a 124-103 win to move on to the 2024 NBA Finals.
Doncic and Irving were the unquestioned stars of the show but the Jason Kidd got superb performances from across the roster. Dereck Lively II returned from a neck sprain to help anchor the defense with Daniel Gafford. P.J. Washington also hit a couple of timely shots in the game.
Dallas is back in the championship round for the first time since winning it all in 2011 behind Dirk Nowitzki. The Boston Celtics will be waiting for them to decide the rightful winner of the 2024 Larry O'Brien Trophy.
Dallas Mavericks vs Minnesota Timberwolves game player stats and box scores
Dallas Mavericks game player stats and box scores
Minnesota Timberwolves game player stats and box scores
Dallas Mavericks vs Minnesota Timberwolves game summary
The Dallas Mavericks were two steps ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves defensively. They limited the home team to 19 points while Luka Doncic outscored them with 20 points on his own. Dallas’ 17-1 run to end the first quarter gave it a 35-19 advantage heading into the next period.
Minnesota had a couple of mini-runs to cut into Dallas' lead but the Mavericks always had an answer. Doncic added just five more points but Irving took over, scattering 15 points in the same period.
Karl-Anthony Towns tried to get himself and his team going by bullying his way into the paint. Anthony Edwards also had his moments, but the Mavericks defense was just unforgiving. Dallas also uncorked another crippling run (11-2) to end the period and grab a 69-40 advantage before the halftime break.
The Minnesota Timberwolves found some groove in the third quarter behind Karl-Anthony Towns' 14 points. Anthony Edwards had a couple of nifty moves to the basket but was still largely held in check by Dallas' defense. Minnesota won the third period but it still trailed 97-73 with 12 minutes to go.
"Ant-Man" desperately wanted to lead one rally after another but the Dallas Mavericks snuffed out every comeback attempt. The visitors' defense once again proved too tough to crack. Dereck Lively II's activity alone was a problem the Timberwolves had trouble dealing with.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch eventually waved the white flag with a little over two minutes left. Once he took out his starters, Jason Kidd responded with the same gesture. The final score was 124-103, but the beatdown was more emphatic than the deficit suggested.
Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards' 3-pointers tonight
Kyrie Irving made one of two attempts from deep while Luka Doncic erupted for 5-for-8 from the same range in the first half. Karl-Anthony Towns couldn't sink one of his two shots from behind the arc while Anthony Edwards had a 1-for-2 clip.
Irving and Doncic combined to jack up 20 shots from long range and sank 10 of them. Meanwhile, Towns and Edwards limped to a 5-for-12 finish on Thursday from the same distance.