The second poster of this Christmas Day between the Mavericks and the Wolves kept its promises, although they were not what we necessarily expected.
Minnesota will happily settle for that to end its three-game losing streak. The match within the match between Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards had started well. Doncic hits twice from distance in the first three minutes, Edwards responds almost immediately. The two teams go blow for blow, despite a new 3-point shot from number 77 of the Mavericks. The Wolves substitutes were not successful, the Minnesota defense much more to keep Dallas at 24 points in the first quarter, including 19 for the Doncic – Irving tandem.
If the Slovenian plays in total control to score, he struggles more to create, and it is all the Mavs who are slipping. Donte DiVincenzo is in good rhythm and the return of Edwards on the floor allows the visitors to open up an initial gap. The Mavericks' slump drags on and nothing is going well for Dallas, with the injury exit of Luka Doncic! Hit in the left calf, he will not return from the match. With their last ten shots of the second quarter missed and 32.6% shooting, the Texans are in trouble. Authors of a very good first defensive period, Chris Finch's players logically lead 57-40 at halftime.
From +28 to +2 in 12 minutes!
Halftime did not slow down the visitors' momentum. Julius Randle, already with seven assists at the break, continues his very good match, and Rudy Gobert is well involved offensively. The contrast is total between Wolves perfectly in their game offensively, with good ball circulation and many players involved. The Mavericks are hanging on temporarily thanks to the exploits of Kyrie Irving but the exit of the leader once again breaks Dallas' rhythm in attack. Minnesota signs another 10-0 to bring the gap to 28 units (88-60) and take off at the end of the third quarter.
The match was not over yet, the fault in particular of a monstrous Kyrie Irving. Above all, the Dallas defense regains intensity to limit Anthony Edwards. Klay Thompson overtakes Reggie Miller as the fifth most prolific 3-point shooter in history and the American Airlines Center exults as his charges go 22-5 to restart the game.
The expected duel changes direction with Kyrie Irving as the perfect replacement for Luka Doncic. The Maverick is heroic and drops the gap below ten points, then to -6 and up to -3 by being the scorer or the decisive passer on each basket! Anthony Edwards was discreet for a long time but scored two crucial baskets in the last 80 seconds, while Irving had missed the shot to put his team in front. The Wolves come out at the last minute, 105-99.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– The Mavericks are crossing their fingers for Luka Doncic. Having recently returned from the infirmary, already with a problem with his left leg, the Slovenian injured his left calf in a non-contact and seemingly innocuous action. The Dallas star remained motionless for around twenty seconds before heading straight to the locker room. Kyrie Irving tried everything to make people forget his absence (26 points in the second period), but the Mavericks nonetheless remain a much more dangerous team with Doncic on the floor.
– We found the Timberwolves again for a while. Out of the picture on defense during their last three outings, Chris Finch's players found their identity during 35 minutes of really good basketball, intense and hard on the man. And as the attack was also running at full speed at the same time, these Wolves had the look, that of a real outsider in the West. However, he came close to throwing everything in the trash, failing to be able to slow down an irresistible Kyrie Irving.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
