TNT Double-Header October 29th: Dal Vs. Min
Tonight’s TNT double header featured two western conference matchups. To start the night off, a rematch of the Western Conference finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves. The big difference between this game and the series in may is the Mavs adding Klay Thompson and the Wolves replacing Karl Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte Divincenzo. Anthony Edwards got the game off to an electric start, scoring 24 points in the first quarter alone, going 8/10 from the field and 6/8 from 3.
The Mavs fought back though. Luka began scoring timely baskets and finding his teammates on the perimeter to create shots not only for themselves but for others as well. As well, the Wolves were being very careless with the basketball and turned the ball over 7 times in the quarter and were only able to bring in 5 rebounds. The Mavs went into half up two.
If the third quarter had to be described with one person, that person would be Kyrie Irving, who scored 16 points on 6/10 from the field and 4/6 from 3 in the 3rd. It felt like anytime Minnesota began to find momentum, Kai would come down, make as big shot and silence the crowd. He is one of the few players in the league that can decimate any lead you have created within a matter of seconds.
With the Mavs up 11, all Dallas had to do was coast to the finish line, maintain what they have been doing and get out of the back to back with two wins. With 5 minutes remaining Nickeil Alexander Walker stepped up and scored multiple times to bring the lead within one possession. But the Mavs just were too much. Luka magic showed out again with a 33 foot heave to make it an 8 point lead with a minute remaining. And at that point, it was just too much for the Wolves to come back from ending with a final score of 120-114 in favor of the Mavericks.
The biggest takeaway from this game was the success the mavericks can have in games even if Luka and Klay aren’t at their best. The two combined shot a combined 3/15 from 3 and a total 12/34 from the field. Even with these numbers the Mavs were able to go on the road, in a loud Minnesota atmosphere, and walk out with a victory.
The concerns for Minnesota are piling up, really concerning to see how the spacing in this offense is going to develop. KAT was a great piece for them because of how much of a threat he was from the 3. And while Randle has the ability to shoot the three, he doesn’t do it at the volume, let alone the proficiency that Towns was able to do. I wouldn’t be shocked if Naz Reid is asked to try starting so the paint doesn’t become too clogged for Gobert and Randle to work at the same time. The main issue was the turnovers. If Ant-man wants to really catapult himself into the superstar tier of players, he has to be able to have the ball in his hands in late game situations.
The Mavs next game is on Halloween at home against the Rockets, and the Wolves play next at home on friday against the Nuggets.
