The Timberwolves and Mavericks play Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference Finals tonight, with Dallas leading the series 3-0. Staff writer Chris Hine reports live from American Airlines Arena.
Gameview, with live stats and match information
8:39 p.m.: The Timberwolves pushed into turnovers, fouls, but still tied at halftime
Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert each committed three fouls in the first half, and the Wolves gave up a 12-point lead to go into the locker room tied 49-49.
The Wolves’ defense held Dallas to just 37 percent shooting, but the Mavericks were 8-for-19 from the three-point line, which helped them close out the game against a Wolves team that shot 47 % but only made four three-pointers.
Eight Wolves turnovers led the Mavs to 18 points.
Edwards finished with 17 points at halftime, but the Wolves nearly gave up a 30-20 lead in the opening minutes of the quarter. They regrouped to lead 42-34 behind Mike Conley’s 13 first-half points, but a pair of threes from Derrick Jones led an 8-0 Dallas spurt to tie the score at 42.
The Wolves had to play the last 2:40 without Towns, Gobert and Edwards. The score was tied 45-45 at that point and remained that way for the rest of the half, with the Wolves keeping Dallas from taking advantage of those minutes.
Doncic has 17 points on 4-of-13 shooting, but has three threes and is 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. The Wolves had a 22-10 paint point advantage.
8:03 p.m.: Anthony Edwards gives Wolves the lead in the first quarter
Behind Anthony Edwards’ 14 points, the Timberwolves lead the Mavericks 27-20 at the end of the first quarter.
To start the night, the Wolves changed up their early defensive matchups, as Edwards guarded Luka Doncic and Jaden McDaniels had Kyrie Irving. Doncic started well with eight points early as the Mavericks and Wolves were tied 10-10 midway through the quarter.
But after Dwight Powell replaced Daniel Gafford — back when an injured Derek Lively would normally be in the game — the Wolves successfully attacked the rim. Minnesota went on a 10-0 run for a 20-10 lead with 2 minutes, 50 seconds remaining. Mike Conley had three interceptions in the quarter.
Edwards found success scoring at all levels, hitting a three, from mid-range and getting to the rim. He attempted eight free throws in the quarter, but missed three.
Dallas shot 6 of 29 from the field and no player besides Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving made a basket in the first quarter until the 1:29 mark.
The Wolves were 10 of 16 but had five turnovers, including a bad one by Edwards with seconds left, which allowed the Mavs to finish the quarter on an 8-3 run.
5:25 p.m.: Discussion on the filming of KAT
As Karl-Anthony Towns spoke to the media following the Timberwolves shootout Tuesday morning, Anthony Edwards walked past the crowd and shouted “KAT hits eight threes tonight, for all you ask.”
“That’s a prediction right there,” Towns said. “That would be lovely.”
If the Wolves want to extend the series against Dallas, they need Towns to shake off his struggles in this series and return to the player who helped them win the series against the Nuggets.
Towns is 15 of 54 so far in the series, and he is 3 of 22 from three-point range. Towns said he wasn’t trying to do anything extraordinary going into Game 4.
“I know I got the job done, so I’m confident going out there, shooting the ball and the plan, as always, is to see it go through the net,” Towns said.
As for the team’s overall mindset regarding the elimination, Towns said the team hasn’t lost belief that they can get back into the series, especially since she had been eliminated against Denver and came back to win the series.
“I know when that series got to 3-2, I heard a lot of murmuring – not from the outside but just from people in general in the city or around us. And the series was in front of a lot But everyone in our locker room believes, so as long as everyone in the locker room believes, anything is possible with us.”
Wolves coach Chris Finch has confidence in Towns: “I told him, ‘The past has no bearing on the future. Trust your talent. Stay confident…the shots will fall.'”
4:16 p.m.: Injury assessment
For Dallas, Derek Lively II is likely out after suffering a neck sprain in Game 3, but the Mavericks could benefit from additional reinforcement on their front line with Maxi Kleber, who could return from a neck injury. shoulder for Game 4. Kleber was upgraded to questionable before Game 4 while Lively was listed as questionable.
If the Wolves can force Game 5, it would be Thursday night at Target Center.
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