1 week Ago By Sam Amico, Hoops Wire
The Mavericks and Timberwolves brought playoff vibes to a regular-season showdown Tuesday night, with Dallas ultimately holding on for a 120-114 road nailbiter of a win. Despite just being game four of the NBA season, this one felt personal. The Mavericks seemingly came in with a point to prove after last year’s Western Conference Finals win over the Wolves, and Minnesota — led by a scorching start from Anthony Edwards — was clearly out to answer.
Early on, Edwards was a one-man wrecking crew. He poured in a career-high 24 points in the first quarter alone, draining six threes and putting the Mavericks’ defense on its heels. It was clear he hadn’t forgotten last season’s loss to Dallas.
Edwards was active on both ends, draining pull-up jumpers and locking down defensively. Yet, after that red-hot start, he cooled off, finishing with 37 points on 12-of-20 shooting but only 6-of-12 from the free-throw line — a crucial spot where the Wolves let points slip away. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving kept Dallas steady.
Doncic had an off night by his standards, missing his first seven three-point attempts and logging 10-for-27 overall. A leg injury scare in the second quarter after a collision with Jaden McDaniels added to the drama. But Doncic returned after halftime and hit a stepback triple from 32 feet late, putting the game out of reach.
Irving, however, stole the show. With Doncic struggling, Irving picked up the slack, finishing with 35 points, including two clutch threes in the final minutes. The Mavericks’ supporting cast held its own as well, with Daniel Gafford delivering 14 points and battling through a minor injury scare.
Dallas shot a smooth 48% from the field, impressive given they were on a back-to-back after beating Utah the night before. For the Timberwolves, it was a valiant effort, but the Mavericks showed the resilience of a team that knows how to close out games — a trait that might just carry them deep into the playoffs once again. More NBA | Available free agents by position This article first appeared on Hoops Wire and was syndicated with permission.
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