Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Luka Dončić hit a game-winning three-pointer with three seconds left to propel the Dallas Mavericks to a 109-108 comeback victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.
NBA @NBA
LUKA 3-POINTER IN THE CLUTCH TO TAKE THE LEAD WITH 3 SECONDS LEFT IN THE 4Q 🤯🎯
DAL-MIN (1-0) | 4Q Live on TNT pic.twitter.com/6hNV77J8aV
NBA @NBA
Luka Doncic.
Ice in his veins. 🥶 https://t.co/k31mAzTxxg pic.twitter.com/XfGBfXcFRR
Dončić finished with a 32-point, 13-assist, 10-rebound triple-double to lead Dallas, which trailed by as many as 18. He now has four triple-doubles over his last five playoff games.
StatMuse @statmuse
Players with 4 triple-doubles in a 5-game span in the playoffs:
Wilt Chamberlain
Magic Johnson
Nikola Jokic
And now, Luka Doncic. pic.twitter.com/uGWJvAZUoB
Minnesota led 108-103 before Mavs guard Kyrie Irving’s corner three slashed the deficit to two with 1:05 left. The teams then traded empty possessions before Minnesota superstar Anthony Edwards committed a turnover, giving Dallas the ball back with 13 seconds left.
Dončić got the ball and a key switch, leading to Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert guarding him on the perimeter. The MVP finalist then nailed a stepback three for the one-point edge.
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Luka right there: “You can’t f—ing guard me.”
Minnesota still had a chance with three seconds left and the ball in Dallas’ half of the court, but Naz Reid’s three was no good.
Irving overcame a slow start to score 13 points in the fourth quarter (including four three-pointers) for 20 overall. Mavs big men Daniel Gafford (16 points, five blocks) and Dereck Lively II (14 points, nine rebounds) controlled the paint.
Reid was the Timberwolves’ best player on this night, scoring a team-high 23 points off the bench and hitting 7-of-9 three-pointers. Edwards added 21 points and seven assists but shot just 5-of-17.
But the story here was Dončić, who’s been inevitable all playoffs and especially in this series. He dropped 33 points, eight assists and six rebounds in Game 1 before his 32-point triple-double, and now the Mavericks now hold a 2-0 edge in the best-of-seven Western Conference Finals, which head back to Dallas for Games 3 and 4.
Until then, NBA players, analysts and fans alike were in awe of Dončić’s performance, including his cold-blooded game-winner:
Dirk Nowitzki @swish41
Wow
Trae Young @TheTraeYoung
Kyrie may be the PERFECT compliment to Luka ! They toughhh
playoff paint @nba_paint
Bazooka Doncic. pic.twitter.com/GSyUqxWAk6
Jason Gallagher @jga41agher
Luka Doncic is so clearly better than all of his peers I can’t believe this is even a debate.
Jarred Vanderbilt @JVando
Luka is insane
Josh Okogie @CallMe_NonStop
Toughhh
RJ @RjHampton14
77 went to the ballroom to dance !
Theo pinson @tpinsonn
Wow lol
Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
🥶🥶🥶
Hardwood Paroxysm @HPbasketball
Luka Doncic is a winning player. I accept being an idiot.
Also, regardless of Finals, he takes Best In The World Title with this series for the summer.
Dallas Nation @TheDallasNation
LUKA DONCIC ADDS ANOTHER PLAYOFF MEME TO HIS RESUME pic.twitter.com/QFbfMT4MEg
Robert Griffin III @RGIII
Luka Doncic is a cold blooded killa on that basketball court. That shot was DISRESPECTFULLY BEAUTIFUL @luka7doncic
Robert Flom @RichHomieFlom
There is no more baffling set of draft decisions in NBA history than 3 different teams passing on Luka Doncic. It was incredibly stupid at the time and has somehow aged even worse.
Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
The Mavericks look like they’re gonna win the NBA Finals. Elite defense and elite role players, led by two elite closers in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. And by the way, Jason Kidd is coaching his ass off these playoffs.
Game 3 will take place on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
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