Dallas Mavericks crushed this Thursday The Minnesota Timberwolves in the first two quarters and then they walked calmly towards a new victory, which in this case allows them to close the Western Conference final 4-1 and qualify for the Finals of the NBA for the first time since 2011, when they got their only ring. It was 124 to 103 for the Mavswho will seek the second title in their history against the Boston Celtics, after the one obtained in 2010/11.
Once again, much is explained from the figure of Luka Doncic y Kyrie Irving, the dynamic duo. They scored 44 points between them in that first half, thus surpassing the 40 that the entire Minnesota team scored in that same period. Doncic, the MVP of the Western Finals, became the fourth player in history with at least 450 points, 150 rebounds and 150 assists in a postseason after Nikola Jokic (2023), LeBron James (he did it 6 times) and Larry Bird (1987),
In the best Michael Jordan style, Doncic showed off with three-pointers from a distance and even took the place to play provocatively with the Minnesota public. For his part, Irving, NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavalliers in 2016, grabbed the microphone in the middle of the celebrations and sent a somewhat more serene message for his teammates: “Enjoy the moment.”
The grand final is coming. The Celtics, who swept the Indiana Pacers 4-0 in the East, will host the first game of the championship series on June 6.
Doncic, in the wake of Nowitzki
The Slovenian Luka Doncic signed a new monumental performance this Thursday to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in his six seasons in the world’s top basketball league.
He did so as the undisputed leader, with 36 points, ten rebounds and five assists, of a franchise that returns to fight for the ring after the 2011 title won with the German Dirk Nowitzki as protagonist.
The 25-year-old former Real Madrid player will play for glory in a stellar Finals against the Boston Celtics, who defeated the Indiana Pacers 4-0 in the Eastern Conference finals. The Finals, the best of seven games, will begin at the TD Garden in Boston on June 6.
Doncic arrives on that stage as MVP of the Western Conference finals after giving a performance at the Target Center in Minnesota to close the series 4-1.
The Slovenian had taken “the blame” two days ago for the defeat suffered at home that prolonged the series. The 20 points scored in just the first quarter, with eight of eleven field goals and four three-pointers, showed the Texans the way.
Dallas is once again experiencing dream moments for the first time since the glorious times of German Dirk Nowitzki, the man who, along with leaders like Jason Terry, gave the Mavs the 2011 ring in the Finals against LeBron James’ Miami Heat.
“This trophy belongs to the entire team, it’s not me. Going to the Finals, I can’t believe it”said an excited Doncic at the end of the game in the interview on the field.
Doncic’s postseason, in numbers
Doncic qualified for the Finals after averaging 28.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists in this postseason, in which the Mavericks eliminated the Los Angeles Clippers (4-2), the Oklahoma City Thunder (4-2) and the Wolves (4 -2).
The Slovenian recorded six triple doubles, the last of which came last Tuesday in the defeat at the America Airlines Center.
He accumulated seven games over 30 points and never scored less than 18.
His numbers in the playoffs are amazing. He averaged 31 points in the 2019-2020 season, 35.7 in 2020-2021 and 31.7 in 2021-2022, before missing last season’s postseason.
It was a step back that helped him return even more motivated this season, in which he was seventh in the regular season in scoring average, with 28.7 points per game.
A clash of titans now awaits him with the Boston Celtics of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday and the great ‘former’ Kristaps Porzingis, who is working on his recovery process after a calf problem.
The Celtics start with home field advantage, although the Mavericks have already won six times away from Dallas in this postseason. For its part, Boston won every game played away from TD Garden.
For the Mavericks it will be the third NBA Finals in their history, while the Celtics will go for their eighteenth title, which would represent a record.