The Dallas Mavericks are just a win away from making their first NBA Finals appearance since 2011 after closing out the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3, 116-107, at the American Airlines Center on Monday, May 27 (PHL).
Dallas’ star duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving had yet another strong outing, combining for 66 points in the win. They scored 20 in the fourth quarter, which saw the team close the game on a 14-3 run.
Amid another close finish in the fourth quarter, Dallas suddenly left Minnesota in the dust after P.J. Washington’s corner 3-pointer and Doncic’s mid-range jumper gave the team a four-point lead.
Irving then hit a tough stepback jumper in the corner over Rudy Gobert, which sent the Dallas crowd into a frenzy.
But the Mavericks weren’t done just yet as Daniel Gafford came alive both on offense and defense, blocking Mike Conley’s layup attempt and then getting an and-one alley-oop dunk to go.
History now favors Dallas, as no team in 154 scenarios has come back from a 3-0 deficit in the NBA playoffs and won a series.
Doncic led the way with 33 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Irving also had 33 points to go along with four assists.
Anthony Edwards, who sparked Minnesota’s fiery third-quarter run, finished with 26 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds. Mike Conley added 16 points, while Karl Anthony-Towns added 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Edwards and Towns, however, were a combined 16-for-42 or 38.1% from the field and 0-for-10 on 3-pointers.
In the second quarter, the Mavericks lost reliable big man Derrick Lively due to a neck sprain after taking an inadvertent knee to the back of his head from Towns.
Lively was considered questionable to return at halftime and was eventually ruled out. He finished with six points and three rebounds. It’s still unsure whether Lively can play in Game 4.
The Mavericks and Timberwolves will play Game 4 on Wednesday, May 29 at 8:30 a.m. (PHL time).
