The Dallas Mavericks emerged victorious in a tightly contested Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, overcoming the Minnesota Timberwolves 108-105 on Wednesday. Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving propelled their team with stellar performances, leading Dallas to snatch home-court advantage in a game filled with intense back-and-forth action, according to ESPN.
“Luka Dončić had 33 points, Kyrie Irving had 30 points and the Dallas Mavericks have a 1-0 lead after a Game 1 thriller,” detailed the game’s coverage. The Mavericks’ dynamic duo dominated, with Dončić shooting 12-of-25 from the field, dishing out eight assists, grabbing six rebounds, and stealing the ball three times. Irving matched the intensity, going 12-of-23 with four assists.
The game was characterized by 14 lead changes, keeping the Target Center audience on the edge of their seats. While Dončić had a quiet start, he erupted in the fourth quarter with 15 critical points. On the other side, Anthony Edwards struggled, scoring 19 points on 6-of-16 shooting but still managed to contribute 11 rebounds and eight assists. Karl-Anthony Towns also found it tough, scoring 16 points on 6-of-20 shooting.
The Mavericks gained momentum with a decisive 13-0 run in the fourth quarter, only for the Timberwolves to counter with a 12-1 surge, highlighted by a deep three-pointer from Towns. A controversial moment occurred when Towns’ potential game-tying putback dunk was disallowed for offensive goaltending—a call that stood after review, leaving some fans questioning the decision.
As the game neared its climax with the Mavericks ahead 104-102, Dončić scored again, widening the gap and securing a hard-fought victory. Minnesota failed to get another opportunity to level the score, sealing their fate in the game’s final moments.