Luka Doncic torches rival as Dallas game-winner stuns Minnesota

Dallas has claimed another win on the Timberwolves’ home court, with superstar Luka Doncic sealing the victory in dramatic fashion.

A Luka Doncic game-winning three-pointer lifted the Dallas Mavericks past the Minnesota Timberwolves in epic scenes on Saturday.

A Luka Doncic game-winning three-pointer has lifted the Dallas Mavericks past the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-108 in epic scenes to see the Mavericks improve to 2-0 as they prepare to return to their home court.

With Rudy Gobert guarding him and Dallas trailing 106-108, Doncic nailed the massive step back triple to give Dallas the lead with three seconds left before screaming at the French big man, leaving the Minnesota crowd stunned.

The Wolves had one last chance to win it, with Anthony Edwards dishing to an open Naz Reid, whose shot just rimmed out to seal a big Mavericks win.

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It capped off a wild seesawing affair including 11 lead changes in the fourth quarter, with Dallas now in control of the Western Conference Finals series.

“We wanted that (match-up),” Doncic, who finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists, told TNT of the last possession.

“I can’t move fast, but I can move faster than him,” Doncic added later, poking fun at Gobert.

The series now moves to Dallas for Game 3 on Monday (AEST).

“Motherf*cker! You can’t f*cking guard me!”- Luka Doncic to Rudy Gobert 😳 pic.twitter.com/qV2AsJTOPW

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) May 25, 2024

Here’s the TNT Overtime angle with everything Luka said, including a “let’s go mother f**ker. you cant fucking guard me.” pic.twitter.com/ccfzvfirst

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) May 25, 2024

Shaq: “You had the DPOY on you.”

Luka: “I mean, he’s long enough. He can’t move. I can’t move fast, but I can move faster than him.” 😂😂

(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)

pic.twitter.com/YJ2aOpHcp4

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 25, 2024

Doncic delivered another playoff triple-double and the Mavericks – who trailed by 18 points in the second quarter – handed the Timberwolves a second straight home defeat in the best-of-seven series.

Kyrie Irving got off to a slow start and was hindered by foul trouble, but he scored 13 of his 20 points in the frantic fourth quarter.

The Timberwolves were up 108-103 with 1:29 remaining, but Doncic found Irving for a three-pointer from the corner.

Then after a Mavs timeout, the Slovenian superstar got the ball and wrong-footed Gobert, nailing a three over Minnesota’s Defensive Player of the Year for what proved the decisive basket.

Reid made seven of nine three-point attempts for Minnesota and had a last chance for the Timberwolves, but his long-range effort bounced out at the buzzer.

“That was an exciting playoff game,” Irving said.

“Luka fricking carrying us, man – that’s what we’re talking about right there in terms of leadership.”

Doncic made space and got exactly what he wanted as he nailed the game-winner over Gobert. (Photo by David Berding /Getty Images via AFP)

Daniel Gafford scored 16 points and blocked five shots, P.J. Washington scored 10 and Dereck Lively chipped in 14 off the bench for the Mavericks.

“Everybody contributed,” Irving said.

Anthony Edwards scored 21 points with five rebounds and seven assists for Minnesota but connected on just five of 17 attempts on another tough shooting night.

Mike Conley scored 18 points for the Timberwolves, Gobert had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Karl-Anthony Towns scored 15 points.

Dallas coach Jason Kidd said it was up to Doncic to decide if he should go for a three-pointer out of the team’s final timeout and down by two points.

“The play was to get Luka the ball and let Luka do what Luka does in those moments,” Kidd said.

“We talked about taking a two, but when he got to dancing with Gobert you could see the step-back was coming and the rest was history.”

A Luka Doncic game-winning three-pointer lifted the Dallas Mavericks past the Minnesota Timberwolves in epic scenes on Saturday.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, who said after his team’s Game One defeat that they needed to be better in clutch moments, pointed to two crucial turnovers in the final minute.

He said 22-year-old rising star Edwards needed to “pick up his decision-making” but shrugged off the suggestion he needed more minutes of rest.

“Maybe we should have gotten him out at the beginning of the fourth, but it’s the Western Conference Finals, man,” Finch said.

“You can’t look to hide people or try to take breaks. I don’t see Kyrie shying away from a matchup out there.”

Dallas will try to press their advantage when they host Game Three.

The winner of the series will face either Boston or Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals, with the Celtics holding a 2-0 series lead ahead of Game Three on Sunday (AEST).

– with AFP

Originally published as Luka Doncic torches rival as Dallas game-winner stuns Minnesota