C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images
There is still a long way to go, but the Minnesota Timberwolves took the first step toward becoming the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-0 deficit.
Minnesota defeated the Dallas Mavericks 105-100 in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals at American Airlines Center and now trails 3-1 in the series. Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns were not at their best in the first three contests but carried their team to victory with the season on the line.
NBA on TNT @NBAonTNT
ANT-MAN 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/KFev3azqZF
Edwards just missed a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, while Towns found some redemption with 25 points and five rebounds behind 9-of-13 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 shooting from deep.
It was Edwards who hit a clutch shot in the last minute, but Towns’ outside shooting throughout the fourth quarter put the Timberwolves in position to win and earned some love from social media:
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
pic.twitter.com/dYT93XAJby
Shea Serrano @SheaSerrano
KAT REDEMPTION GAME BABY LET’S GOOOOOOOOO
Myron Medcalf @MedcalfByESPN
KAT gonna say he took 25,000 shots before lunch today
Dave McMenamin @mcten
Major props to Karl-Anthony Towns, whose own coach said his play was “hard to watch” in Game 3. Out here in the 4th Q of Game 4, playing with 5 fouls, KAT just hit back-to-back 3s to put MIN up 95-90. He has 22 pts on 8-for-11 shooting with 5:04 remaining in regulation.
Dan Wolken @DanWolken
The KAT redemption game!
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Karl played 15 minutes with 5 fouls. He just picked up his sixth but had his best stretch of the series in between.
Wolves by 8
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Over the first three games, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving outscored Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns by 70 points.
Tonight? It was Edwards and Towns by 10.
See you Thursday for Game 5.
Jon Krawczynski @JonKrawczynski
Wolves dug DEEP to get that one. KAT comes through in a big way and they’re still alive.
Kendrick Perkins @KendrickPerkins
Ant Man playing making for others has not been talked about enough in these playoffs.
Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 @big_business_
AYOOOOO ANT THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL
Dan Devine @YourManDevine
Ant keeps having to drive into five bodies, but at least when KAT’s in the opposite corner, the skip’s going to an elite shooter
claire de lune @ClaireMPLS
ant with the ‘i took it personal’— that man does not mind the jordan comparisons one iota
While the Mavericks were in full control of the series entering Tuesday’s contest, each of the previous three games came down to the final minutes and were right there for Minnesota even when Edwards and Towns struggled at times. Slightly better play could quickly close the series gap, and Edwards came out with the expected amount of aggression.
Minnesota jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter as a result, although Edwards, Towns and Rudy Gobert also found themselves in early foul trouble as the Mavericks came storming back to draw even by halftime.
Luka Dončić (28 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists) struggled with his shot out of the gates but still led the home team’s efforts by getting to the free-throw line and battling for boards.
The Timberwolves then got the entire Towns experience out of the locker room, as he finally found his shooting stroke and staked them to a lead just to pick up an inexcusable fifth foul well before the fourth quarter even started.
Dallas responded by Jaden Hardy providing an unexpected boost with multiple dunks and outside shooting, which, for the fourth game in a row, meant everything came down to winning time in the fourth quarter.
And for the first time it was the Timberwolves making the winning plays.
NBA @NBA
TOWNS HITS ANOTHER. 4/4 FROM DEEP.
Wolves lead by 6 as they attempt to force Game 5 on TNT! pic.twitter.com/5nVM2cViRn
Towns caught fire and drained three monster triples in the final quarter alone. He also played an impressive two-man game down low with Gobert at times and managed to play the majority of the fourth with five fouls before he finally fouled out on a Dončić three-pointer.
It was no worry for the visitors, though, as Edwards filled the void and hit the biggest shot of the game in the last minute to extend the lead from three to five. It provided enough cushion to survive an and-1 three-pointer from Dončić and send the series back to Minnesota for Thursday’s Game 5.
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