Towns, Edwards Propel Timberwolves Over Mavericks 105-100 to Prevent Sweep in Western Conference Finals

 

Karl-Anthony Towns finally found his groove, and the Minnesota Timberwolves managed to close out a game in the Western Conference finals. This crucial win keeps them alive as they head back to Minnesota, hoping to extend the series against Dallas.

Towns scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half, leading the Wolves to a 105-100 victory over the Mavericks on Tuesday night. Anthony Edwards contributed significantly with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, ensuring Minnesota stayed alive in their first conference finals appearance in 20 years. Game 5 is set for Thursday night.

Towns, struggling with a 28% shooting rate in the series, turned it around, hitting 9 of 13 from the field and 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. Despite picking up his fifth foul midway through the third quarter, he maintained his aggressive play. "Ain’t no time to have any doubts," Towns said. "It’s Game 4, down 3-0. Ain’t no time to have any doubts."

Luka Doncic recorded his sixth triple-double of these playoffs with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. However, he and co-star Kyrie Irving struggled with shooting, hitting just 13 of 39 combined from the field. Irving, previously unbeaten in closeout games, managed only 16 points and was 1 of 6 from long range.

"This game’s on me. I didn’t give enough energy," Doncic admitted after the loss. He and Irving, who had been pivotal in building the series lead, couldn’t close it out this time. "They won one game. We’ve just got to focus on the next one."

The Timberwolves led in the final minutes of each game in the series, but this time they secured the win. Towns’ three-pointer with 5:41 left put the Wolves ahead for good. He then hit another deep shot shortly after, and his third 3-pointer of the quarter extended the lead to six with three minutes remaining. Edwards praised Towns’ performance, saying, "He was super confident. He played exceptionally well."

Edwards sealed the game with a jumper, putting the Wolves up by five with 39 seconds left. Despite Doncic’s late 3-pointer and free throw attempt, the Timberwolves held on, thanks to Naz Reid's clutch basket.

Dallas coach Jason Kidd acknowledged the challenge of closing games in the league, crediting Minnesota for their resilience. "It’s hard to close in this league. Give Minnesota credit. They did."

Towns showcased his rhythm in the third quarter, scoring 10 points before fouling out with an elbow to P.J. Washington Jr. The foul led to a technical against Minnesota coach Chris Finch, who has been coaching from the second row due to a knee injury.

Finch's passionate coaching, even from a distance, inspired the team. Mike Conley, who scored 14 points, noted Finch's impact, saying, "When your coach is up getting technicals and yelling, it’s impressive. It lit a fire under all of us."

Despite foul trouble, with Towns fouling out and Edwards and Rudy Gobert finishing with five fouls each, the Wolves found a way to win. "We weathered a lot of foul trouble, which was frustrating," Finch said. "Credit to our guys. They found a way to win."

Minnesota avoided becoming the 16th team to be swept after losing the first three games of a series. Now, they aim to force a sixth game, joining only three other teams in NBA history to achieve such a comeback.

Jaden Hardy scored 10 of his 13 points in a brief stretch, helping the Mavericks stay close. However, the Wolves' superior shooting, with a series-best 53% from the field, made the difference. The Mavericks missed rookie center Dereck Lively II, injured in Game 3, and relied on Maxi Kleber, returning from a separated shoulder, to bolster their interior defense.

Minnesota’s win ensures the series returns to their home court, where they will look to further extend their season.