Minnesota Timberwolves drop Game 1 to Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks

Luka Doncic took over late as the Minnesota Timberwolves ran out of gas and fell to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Ben Beecken (@bbeecken) discusses Luka's greatness, as well as the late-game execution issues that plagued the Wolves in the loss. Also, Anthony Edwards's confounding performance (and apparent fatigue), Jaden McDaniels turning in another stellar showing, and the Wolves' role players largely outplaying the Mavs'.
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[@coffeehouse1126]

As a Mavs fan nothing but love to Wolves fans. This series is far from over, good luck and may whoever win this series beat the Celtics.

[@markhall6306]

You sound objective unlike some fans on either side

[@jjparks9263]

Why are you so sure the Celtics are gonna win lol they barely won off a 2 terrible turnovers from the pacers with less than 20 secs left. That series is far from over too

[@peters4115]

@@jjparks9263really doesn’t matter whoever coming out the East getting smoked

[@jjparks9263]

@@peters4115 that’s fine. But that series is far from over which is my point. Regardless of what the finals matchup will be

[@HARTTG]

@@jjparks9263we got you🫡

[@tenten5499]

Let’s go Mavs! Much respect. Going to be a great series!

[@Meme_Lloyd]

go mavs!! from 🦝 squad

[@billkevin4501]

GO MAVS

[@milna64]

Go Mavs!

[@joshrandor4371]

Its so weird, that as a Mavs fan I can say the same thing as the Wolves fans. Mavs played under potential outside of Lukai...Luka pulled off the win in Q4. This series is going to be nuts.

[@unbiascowboy1537]

Kyrie played great what are you talking about.

[@chrisehunt37]

@@unbiascowboy1537Lukai is how Mavs fans reference both Luka and Kai

[@unbiascowboy1537]

@@chrisehunt37 oh I’m sorry, you learn something new everyday.

[@jeremygates9374]

Mavs fan. If this is the type of basketball that we are in for this series, I’m HERE FOR IT!! Definitely fun to watch! #GoMavs 🏀🏀🏀🏀

[@iamjacquesbarjon]

LET'S GO MAVS!

[@toyranch]

Go Mavs!!!!

[@alfieday6896]

first locked on host we've faced giving Luka his due respect, respect to you and good luck

[@AndrewPolander]

I just had a feeling when we botched that last posession of the 2nd quarter where we had the last shot and turned it into a potential 5 point swing that would come back to bite us! Turnovers are killers!! Still very confident that Wolves will right the ship. Very confident that we can and will win a game or 2 on the road after witnessing what we did to the world champs winning 3 out of 4 on the road!

[@trippo181]

Can tell this scrub isn’t use to WCF. Mavs played trash and won. And this dude acting like it’s some moral victory for the t wolves

[@SonGokouSSJ]

Go Mavs

[@johnkurian4529]

GO MAVS!

[@tylerkraft199]

Go mavs!

[@4177yo]

Go mavs!!

[@djkido316]

Held mavs to under 30% from three? :D, Mavs were missing wide open threes so they stopped taking them and since nobody can stop LuKai in the paint why the heck not just go to paint and score at will.

[@icanhazgoodgame3845]

Its a cope take. I think minn can play much better D, but pretending they controlled or limited the mavs offense in any significant way in GM1 is laughable.

[@JJW419]

So bias 😂. Just remember wolves shot +36 from 3. + 36!!!! Luka wasn't that great 1st three and half quarters and nobody else was doing anything besides Kyrie. And Mavs were close enough for Luka to get going. but the fact Mavs were close is not good for Minnesota. So stop bringing up these ifs and buts. Wolves got outplayed late bc Mavs stars were better than the wolves main guys. Plus Kyrie gassed out Anthony Edwards, he should have kept ky name out his mouth

[@jnmc2498]

Locked on Timberwolves 🙄

[@laredolassoo]

All Ant said was that he was looking forward to guarding Kyrie. He's a competitor, and has given props to every player he's played.

[@parmend2001]

You said if this is the worst game from the wolves this series, y’all would win the series?!? Mavs played like 💩 and still won. The mavs will have a better team game come Friday. Kidd has been great so far this postseason at making adjustments. For us to get a game 1 win is HUGE!! the pressure is on y’all now. I don’t think Ant is ready this smoke, not at 22 years old.

[@markhall6306]

The wolves played like garbage and will have a better team come Friday

[@jjparks9263]

@@markhall6306first y’all have to stop shooting 49 threes

[@markhall6306]

@@jjparks9263 they have to be more aggressive, Finch was not happy with their lackluster offense, one of the worst games of the playoffs. If that was the Timberwolves worst effort they will be fine and only lost by 3 not bad not saying Mavs were great but definitely better than Minnesota

[@parkerC1990s]

@@markhall6306the Mavs were way worse and still won. Good luck 😂

[@markhall6306]

@@parkerC1990s no they’re not Kyrie had a breakout night wolves played like garbage do watch basketball I don’t think so Finch will make adjustments you won by three Ant hardly showed up trust me he will we’re not okc

[@LockedOnRangersMLB]

Go Mavs :)

[@samuelpalpan8679]

Most of the threes from the mavs were wide open

[@Jyoandbean]

Lemme say this. Wolves fans are a lot better than clips or thunder fans. This’ll be a hell of a series. Can’t wait for ant and Luka to both go off in a game.

[@Nix-qq5je]

I heard they legalized drugs in Minny. Could explain some of these delulu takes.

[@QuacktasticDucks-te5de]

MAvs in 5! Go Mavs!

[@VikingsDucks]

This will age well

[@imdbtruth]

Go Mavs 💙 🤍 💚

[@BroEth24]

If I'm the Wolves I am NOT showing the same coverage. I also don't think McDaniels really effected him all that much, Luka was getting where he wanted.

[@Jyoandbean]

Wolves are now seeing elite perimeter play. They will adjust. This is gonna be a bloodbath if a series.

[@JazzYachtrocker]

Mavs in 6

[@mycommintmycomment2312]

What happened to Mr I got Uncle Drew 😂

[@757gama]

Most of all Dallas 3’s were wide open that’s the one correction I’ll make from your analysis

[@ivanwade397]

Ben u nailed the game 1 loss prediction

[@wolfgangsperber7894]

The 13:0 run started with 7 (not 6) Luka points.😂

[@Marc-n5e]

The Luka hate never ends 🤣

[@wolfgangsperber7894]

Are you aware that the MAVS lost EVERY first game of any series since JK is their coach?

[@danieljohnson9982]

Dallas shot 24 percent from three and still won. Timberwolves shot over 36 percent from the three. If Dallas shoots their average that will be a problem

[@terrancekrolak4759]

Wait til the Mavs hit threes. Blowout city

[@IAMSOILEAU]

In denial

[@MrBseif]

2:52 they were not missing open 3s ?! Seriously ... most of if not all 3s taken by the role players were wide open...

[@parkerC1990s]

Mavs role players missed open threes all game until late.

[@MrCloud2691]

How do you feel about ant calling out kyrie and what effect it had on the outcome of the game

[@noinfo1978]

Ant comment was done in a respectful manner consistant with comments on other players but it was still a silly thing to do. It did not bother Kyrie (who has seen just about everything in his career) but definately motifvated him. (See his post game comments)

[@SMORE.]

Bad take, bud. They did a good job on Luka?! 😂

[@VikingsDucks]

Stick to football

[@parkerC1990s]

@@VikingsDucks Lol have fun in Cancun. Ant man is just an ESPN hype machine and is not even close to Luka. There’s levels little boy

[@VikingsDucks]

talk to me when Luka does not have the same rings and mvps as ANT

[@SMORE.]

@@VikingsDucks chill, little guy. 😂🤣Shouldn't you be playing Retro Bowl or ranking PRIME flavors?

[@parkerC1990s]

@@VikingsDucks Luka gets robbed of an MVP going 34/10/9 and you clowns just show how moronic national media is. 😂 Ant was 26/5/5 for the year. And getting cooked on defense now, so. Yall look foolish. Luka is the best player in the world.

[@dazee44]

GO MAVSSSSS

[@wolfgangsperber7894]

Mavs in 5

[@jcfielder2138]

Nick told us to come here and say Mavs in 4. I just do as I’m told. Roll Mavs.

[@mycommintmycomment2312]

If Mavericks steal game 2 that would be sweet

[@markhall6306]

They won’t

[@EchoDragonHawk]

@@markhall6306they definitely did 🤣

[@markhall6306]

@@EchoDragonHawk Timberwolves beat themselves

[@Dion_Hawkins]

Dang only 3.9k followers to 35k locked on mavs, do wolves fans exist

[@danielsharp3683]

I really blame the coaching staff and Criss Finch he knew he was going to need more guys in the playoffs considering we knew our offense is not good enough....he did nothing all year about that issue and that's on the head coach

[@serbarriston7177]

Chris isn't the GM (the guy who builds the team) and the roster is pretty much full, not to mention the budget is ready to burst at the seams. He's the best coach we've had since Flip Saunders. Honestly it's simply the best team all around we've had in 20 years. It's hilarious that fans think they know better and can do better than actual professional coaches, GM's and players. But, by all means go ask A-rod for Chris or Tim's job.

[@danielsharp3683]

@@serbarriston7177 hey dumb bell I never said I wanted anyone's job number one ..2 we have the players on the bench who can help but Finch don't play them ? That's on the coach not the gm ...3 if you don't know what your talking about don't speak about it

[@terrancekrolak4759]

So much inconsistency on the part of Timberwolves.

[@ASHI3TH3P3RSON]

What’s McDanirks due for?

[@Riebauz]

Let it riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiideee

[@benyaminjameie]

GO MAVS

[@jnmc2498]

Ant hasnt been shooting well last games

[@mycommintmycomment2312]

Mavs in 6

[@markhall6306]

Neither team was great Friday will need to be better play more physical

[@KendrickNickerson-m8h]

🦝 🦝🦝🦝

[@ericduemler1256]

Go Mavs! Luka real MVP! Enjoy Cancun

[@TwoFansPontificating]

Go Mavs!!!

[@SpencerEdwards-mq2sh]

Go Mavs!

[@Joe_Ma99]

Go mavs!

[@Joe_Ma99]

27:24 did we watch the same game? Luka will gladly cook that drop coverage all day long. 😆

[@Marc-n5e]

We like that!

[@unofficialteammom532]

Go Mavs! 🦝🦝🦝🦝🦝

[@yosquiggly]

Let's go Mavs!!!! 💚💙

[@hardywoodaway9912]

better luck next game, go Mavs 🫡

[@imdbtruth]

I think you're in denial. I don't think McDaniels can handle Luka, and Ant can't handle Kyrie. If the Wolves play them 1v1, then they're just hoping they miss, and if they blitz them a bunch, then they're not playing the same brand of defense that got them this far. Mavs in 6.

[@pbenavides09]

Go Mavs! 🦝

[@parkerC1990s]

Wolves ain’t winning shit lol. Wolves in 6 pffffftttt 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Alanwarner__44]

Ant is good but he’s not as good as the national media is portraying him. They are pushing hard to make him the face of the league when he’s accomplished nothing. Wasn’t even an MVP finalist. #overratedaf

[@Alanwarner__44]

Luka was dwarfing ANTS stats and playoff production at the same age

[@parkerC1990s]

I told all the Wolves fans to get ready to see the REAL best player in the world. They will shut up after this series thank God. 😂

[@1AceIAm1]

Where's all the MVP candidates? In Cancun with their advanced analytics.

[@mortiz-22]

as a mavs fan i’m terrified we won game 1

[@JuanRomo-vl4hj]

The fuck?

[@Thelostandprofoundpodcast]

If you don’t believe you shouldn’t be here

[@michaelpickering1039]

winning is a good thing, trust me

[@jacob-mikaldorsey3893]

Go Mavs! 🦝 really respect your coverage though

[@giggaliga]

Go Mavs!!!

[@ASHI3TH3P3RSON]

Ant’s not right. Kyrie played his shoes off. He got gassed

[@1nonlyrawbert]

Go Mavs!

[@GiasJulii]

Just remember you lost with Dallas shooting 6 of 25 from three. I said before the series Dallas bigs would match Minnesota bigs, and they have no answer for Luka and Ky.. Picked Dallas in 6 sticking with that.

[@MrMathsimon]

Thankfully, no Wolves players defend dirty like Dork or Westbrick. Just clean D. Mavs in 6 though. #RaccoonSquad

[@godspeedgideon9178]

For once the the refs calls were in our favor, i believe we had the benefit of the whistle last night as oppose to our last series where we had a offensive flopper in SGA and a defensive flopper in Lou Dort. We definitely stole game 1 bc AntMan looked Gas trying to keep up with Kyrie. We shot uner 25% from 3s and you guys hit 18 3s, and we still won, that's crazy

[@kennethhanes5702]

Y’all will continue to learn what a killer is, let’s go mavs🤫

[@vernvartdal6479]

Go Mav's! Wolves D was terrible compared to Dallas. 😂 Ant crumbled under the pressure. Worst game from a superstar I've ever seen.

[@mycommintmycomment2312]

He should stop yapping and start balling 😂

[@Marc-n5e]

Ant is not a superstar tho

[@jamessimmons5469]

Go mavs 🎉

[@Sonicmixer85]

Go Mavs!

[@AdysonandKaseyEngle]

GO MAVS!

[@Sandk1524]

Mavs in 5

[@Corkie0000]

Go Mavs!

[@venoma5787]

Go Mavs !

[@KevsJan]

Go Mavs!

[@ASHI3TH3P3RSON]

For the Mavs to win a game where McDaniels and Anderson combine for 40 points.

[@philippavon9273]

GO MAVS... GO MAVS... GO MAVS... GO MAVS... GO MAVS...

[@adriftwoodking]

This was a single possession win, literally could have gone either way even with our best players playing poorly. Had the KAT foul gone the other way, this is maybe a wolves win. The mavs trailed throught the majority of the game, and at no time held a dominant run. This is nothing to worry about, just a weird playoff basketball game

[@ASHI3TH3P3RSON]

Wolves lost a game where Jaden McDaniels played out of his mind and so did Anderson. Mavs won following their formula. What do you think is more likely to repeat? Luka and Kyrie play well or McDaniels scores 30?

[@adriftwoodking]

@@ASHI3TH3P3RSON I like how you conveniently left out the Wolves best players having bad games lol what do YOU think will happen when they play well? And this is like McDaniels 3rd game in a row playing fantastic lol

[@parkerC1990s]

Antonio Edwarditoooooo

[@VikingsDucks]

Go Wolves

[@oliverjason]

Just curious, why are we calling this “the western conference semifinals”. I guess it would technically be the NBA semi-finals but it doesn’t make much sense to me to call it the “wc semis” especially when much of the nation calls Round 2 “the WC semifinals”

[@jjparks9263]

It’s called the western conference finals. Semi finals was last series.

[@oliverjason]

@@jjparks9263 yes, I’m aware of that. I’m asking why these wolves folks are calling it the “Western conference semi-finals”.

[@HARTTG]

I believe ANT fanbase is FAR BETTER than Shai fanbase imo

[@jerrystraka7856]

12 of 40 ANT has shot 12 of 40 in the last two games. KAT ain't much better. NAW sucks.... is the moment too big? lots of bravado. lot's of promises. only 3 and 3 at home. AT HOME!! the fans deserve better. enough chest thumping. enough trash talking. play smart ball..... P.S. Kyrie ate your lunch, ANT.

[@danielsharp3683]

I agree that was a very very pathetic game !!! Got beat by 2 guys that absolutely cannot happen !! Terrible terrible coaching !too

[@djkido316]

He has now shot 25-83 in his last three games, Lights just might be too bright for him.

[@danielsharp3683]

@@djkido316 that doesn't matter he's a kid Kat has no excuses ..!!!! His whole career has been a big disappointment ..never showing up in big moments getting beat up by smaller players I would get him out of here as soon as you can

[@parkerC1990s]

He’s just a kid, nowhere NEAR as talented as Luka. ESPN is shameful for setting him up like this 😂😂 #GoMavs

[@jerrystraka7856]

@@parkerC1990s ANT sets himself up. confidence is one thing. delivering on brash statements another.... he should be humble and exercise some humility. i like confidence - hate cockiness