Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks secured their place in the NBA Finals with an emphatic 124-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5. This win at the Target Center clinched the Western Conference title for the Mavericks, marking Luka’s first trip to the NBA Finals. The Mavs will face the Boston Celtics, who swept the Indiana Pacers in the East finals.
Historic Achievement for Dallas
This marks the third NBA Finals appearance in Dallas Mavericks’ history and the first since 2011, when they won their only NBA championship with current coach Jason Kidd playing point guard. Doncic, who was named the Western Conference finals MVP, led the charge with his highest-scoring outing of the postseason, dropping 36 points.
Luka Magic in Full Display
“It was Luka magic mode,” Coach Jason Kidd remarked. “He set the tone, and then he made it easier for everyone else. Everybody else stepped up.” Doncic took control from the first possession, scoring 10 points in the first 153 seconds and outscoring the Timberwolves 20-19 in the first quarter. His incredible performance included an off-dribble 3-pointer from the half-court logo, much to the delight of his fans and teammates.
Kyrie Irving’s Crucial Role
Mavericks co-star Kyrie Irving also had a phenomenal game, matching Doncic’s 36 points in the clincher. “Man, I was enjoying it,” said Irving. “You’re just watching a special performance take place. … When Luka starts off a game like that, we’re a tough team to beat.” Irving took over in the second quarter, torching the Timberwolves’ defense with 15 points, showcasing his championship pedigree.
Record-Breaking Duo
Doncic and Irving’s performances in these playoffs have been historic. They each finished with 30 points for the fourth time during the Mavericks’ playoff run. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the only other duo to achieve this more often in a single postseason was the Los Angeles Lakers’ Hall of Fame tandem of Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. They also joined Baylor and West as the only duos to have three dual 30-point outings in the same series.
Team Effort and Historic Leads
The Mavericks’ dominant performance was a team effort, highlighted by the contributions of center Daniel Gafford, who had 11 points and 9 rebounds. “When Kyrie got [to Dallas], they said, ‘Oh, Luka’s not going to work with him,'” Gafford noted. “Working pretty good together right now, if I do say so myself.”
Dallas led by 29 points at halftime, the largest halftime lead by a team in NBA history during a game with a chance to clinch a Finals trip. This lead was one point shy of the Mavericks’ playoff record set during their Game 7 rout of the Phoenix Suns in the 2022 Western Conference semifinals.
Road Warriors
The Mavericks have proven to be formidable on the road, winning their past five road games, starting with a Game 2 win over the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round. Dallas is 7-2 on the road during this playoff run, matching the franchise record for road wins during a single postseason set by the 2011 title team.
Luka’s Long-Awaited NBA Finals
Luka Doncic, who won a EuroLeague championship with Real Madrid before entering the NBA, has waited six seasons to make his first NBA Finals appearance. “It was a very hard road, very hard,” Doncic said. “But we’re not done. We have four more.” Doncic aims to become the first player to win a scoring title and an NBA championship in the same season since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000.
The Dallas Mavericks’ journey to the NBA Finals has been marked by sheer dominance, historic performances, and a relentless team effort. Luka Doncic’s leadership and Kyrie Irving’s experience have been pivotal. As they prepare to face the Boston Celtics, the Mavericks are poised to bring another championship to Dallas. The stage is set for an exciting NBA Finals, with Doncic and Irving ready to make history.
