The Dallas Mavericks kicked off the NBA Western Conference Finals with a thrilling 108-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday! 🏀🔥 The energy at the Target Center in Minneapolis was electric as Luka Doncic faced off against Anthony Edwards in an epic superstar showdown.
Both teams' role players stepped up big time! Jaden McDaniels was on fire for the Timberwolves, sinking six out of nine three-pointers to rack up a team-high 24 points. 💥 Meanwhile, Kyle Anderson, known in China as Li Kaier, dropped 11 points in the first half, keeping the Wolves in the hunt.
On the Mavericks' side, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II were beasts on the boards, grabbing a combined eight offensive rebounds—more than the Timberwolves' towering trio of Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Naz Reid! Talk about hustle! 💪
Coach Jason Kidd pulled off some strategic wizardry by leaving McDaniels and Anderson open, allowing Luka Doncic to conserve energy for his offensive magic. 🎩✨ Since neither McDaniels nor Anderson are known for creating shots off the dribble, this plan helped the Mavericks stay ahead while keeping their superstar fresh.
With Doncic delivering and the Mavericks firing on all cylinders, this series is heating up! Can't wait to see what Game 2 has in store! 🔥 Who else is hyped?
Reference(s):
NBA highlights on May 22: Doncic beats Edwards in superstar contest
cgtn.com
