The Dallas Mavericks removed all doubts about whether they were the best team remaining in the Western Conference Finals by taking a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves. No team has ever come back from a three-game deficit and won in the NBA Playoffs, and by all appearances, the Timberwolves won’t make history on Tuesday night.
Dallas’ Game 3 victory might have been their best one yet, but which players stood out the most? Here are the biggest winners and losers from Sunday’s Mavericks win.
Winner: Jaden McDaniels
After scoring just two points on Friday, McDaniels bounced back with 15 points on just eight shots. That was good, but it wasn’t all good for McDaniels, as he committed five fouls to pull himself off the floor. Aside from the points, McDaniels added just one rebound and a steal, but he was still a pest defensively.
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Loser: Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns’ struggles in the Western Conference Finals continued, as the former No. 1 overall pick made just five of 17 attempts to finish with 14 points. He did chip in 11 rebounds and three assists, but KAT just hasn’t looked like himself all series. He couldn’t even make a 3-point shot, despite taking seven attempts.
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Winner: Naz Reid
After starring in Game 2, Naz Reid returned to terrorize the Mavericks in Game 3 by dropping 14 points off the bench. He played a key part in keeping the Timberwolves in the game, adding three rebounds and two assists in 28 minutes, but it wasn’t enough.
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Loser: Dereck Lively II
It’s not Dereck Lively II’s fault he has his name on this list. But getting kneed in the back of the head by a 248-pound Karl-Anthony Towns limited the Mavs’ sensational rookie to just nine minutes. Lively hasn’t even missed a shot this series, going a perfect 13-for-13 from the floor. His absence was notable on Sunday, and his status for Game 4 could be something to watch.
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Loser: Mike Conley
Based on his play, Mike Conley is a winner. He scored the second-most points on the Timberwolves (16), but he’s also on the brink of elimination, and the 36-year-old is still chasing his first ring. Conley may not get a better chance than this year, but he can only do so much when his teammates don’t show up to play.
Loser: Minnesota Timberwolves’ title hopes
No team has ever won four games in a row after losing the first three games of the series. This likely puts a dagger in what’s been a magical Timberwolves season. While the core is young, it’s hard to see the Timberwolves having a better overall team than they have right now, meaning they might have just missed their championship window.
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Winner: Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving has been extremely consistent this series, and that continued in Game 3. Irving made scoring 31 points look easy, doing so on 20 shots while shooting 50% from distance. He also added four assists and a steal while getting the Mavs one win away from the NBA Finals.
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Winner: Dallas Mavericks fanbase
The Dallas Mavericks have been playing in the NBA for 44 seasons, but they have one championship to their name. That’s a lot better than many teams can claim, but now the Mavericks have a chance to get Luka Doncic his first ring. Dirk Nowitzki became legendary in 2011, now it’s Luka’s turn.
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Winner: Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic now has a chance to establish his legacy, not as one of the best players in basketball, but as one of the NBA’s best of all time. He still has one more to win, but nights like this, with 33 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and five steals, show that he’s capable of being the best player on any court he steps foot on.
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Loser: Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards needed to be much better than scoring 24 points on 23 shots. He’s the alpha wolf in Minnesota, but he didn’t look capable of matching Doncic’s magic. Ant did add nine rebounds and nine assists, and he didn’t get much help from his teammates, especially KAT, but if he wants to establish himself as the face of the NBA, he needs to show up when the games matter most.
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