Timberwolves-Mavericks: 5 insights from Luka Doncic in Game 2

• Download the NBA app
• Game details: DAL 109, MIN 108

MINNEAPOLIS — First, it was a howl of motivation, followed by a silence of disbelief. That was the atmosphere at Target Center suddenly changing, and it's all because Luka Doncic is a cold, cold man.

And cruel. How else can you describe what he did to the Wolves, their fans and Rudy Gobert when he gave the Mavericks the final lead in Game 2 and perhaps the Western Conference final?

With 3.8 seconds left, Luka sank a step-back three-pointer just past Gobert's sad fingertips for the win… and a wow.

The Mavericks are now halfway through the home series – and are heading home for the next two games – because they never panicked after falling behind for much of the game and were simply the more composed team in the fourth quarter.

Mavs coach Jason Kidd chastised his players after a first half in which they trailed by 18 points, but at the same time reminded them: “We're still in it.”

It was quite an impressive comeback by the Mavericks, who were still five points down with 66 seconds left in a game the Wolves were understandably desperate to win.

“We just had to stick together,” Luka said, “and bring positive energy.”

When the siren sounded shortly after the Wolves' Naz Reid tied the game with a layup, the Target Center announcer urged fans to go home safely, adding, “See you next week.”

When the Wolves were down 2-0 and heading to Dallas, that wasn't a fact. That was a wish.

Here are five takeaways from the Mavs' 109-108 win that gave them a significant lead in the series:

1. Luka against anyone else is a tough opponent … for anyone

When Luka has the ball and everything is at stake, the defense has a choice: double coverage or die.

Yes, these rules apply even though Luka was named Kia Defensive Player of the Year four times. Yes, particularly if it's Gobert, a 7-foot-4 player who (like many big men) is on the verge of collapse when he's at the 3-point line or beyond.

And so the predictable happened: Luka went into isolation, dribbled a few times, and created space for himself as Gobert fell for a fake drive, and… whoosh.

Kidd: “We talked about making a two-man team, but when he got along well with Gobert, you could see that a step back was coming. Luka is special and he loves moments like this.”

Luka: “I just saw some space and decided to shoot a 3.”

This was a surprise because the Wolves had Mike Conley and Anthony Edwards on Luka for most of the quarter. When Luka assessed Gobert from 10 yards out, it was too far for the Wolves to send emergency help.

Gobert said: “We switched to pick and roll. I was isolated. I let my team down. They believed in me to get a stop.”

Luka was overcome with emotion, as he often is in such situations – see his reaction after sending the Clippers home with a buzzer beater in the bubble – and yelled in Gobert's direction, something like, “You can't defend me.”

Luka explained: “I spoke Slovenian.”

2. Ant saw 22

It was a nightmare for Edwards, as he missed his shots for the third game in a row (5 of 17 for 21 points) and, to make matters worse on Friday, he threw the ball away at the crucial moment.

With the Wolves up by two points with 12.8 seconds left, Edwards, who was growing increasingly frustrated as the game wore on, lost his composure and threw a pass to the front row. The Wolves never really recovered.

“I decline a lot of shots, especially from medium range,” he said. “I just do the right thing. Maybe the right thing would be to just shoot.”

Edwards, a rising star who beat Kevin Durant in the first round and Nikola Jokic in the semifinals, is struggling to have the same effect on Luka and Kyrie Irving. Unlike in previous rounds, he is neither the best nor the second-best player on the court.

In this series, he made 11 of 33 shots. If you include Game 7 against Denver, he is at 17 of 57.

“I'm not freaking out. I'm not stressing about getting going. I'm just continuing to make the right plays,” he said.

3. Kyrie dodged one and then made a

Life in basketball can change direction in a flash, much like Kyrie dribbling the ball. He experienced that downside when he was about to become the scapegoat in Game 2.

His two missed free throws with 1:44 left and the Mavs were three points down, ending their comeback dreams, at least for now. Kyrie missed three free throws in the quarter, which is astonishing for someone who has an 88% shooting percentage in his career.

But it's good to have Luka on the team to help you out of a jam.

Be that as it may, Kyrie was able to note something positive:

“The fans went crazy,” he said, referring to a fast-food ad. “I think I got them free chicken, didn't I?”

And Kyrie made up for it when he drained a corner three with 65 seconds left to bring the Mavs within two points and set up Luka's game-winning goal. It's a testament to his composure, talent and ability to mentally reset.

After a win, everything is good and in the locker room after the game, Kidd jokingly interrupted the celebrations by saying, “Free throws on three, 1-2-3.”

4. KAT was a spectator

At the moment of truth in Game 2, with the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals for only the second time in franchise history, one of their best players in franchise history was on the bench.

Towns made just four of 16 shots and coach Chris Finch opted to rely on Reid and Kyle Anderson instead in the closing stages – although the Wolves, who were down a point on their last possession, could use the shooting skills of their second-leading scorer.

“I'm for the win, whatever it takes to win,” said Towns, who sat on the bench for the final 8:40 minutes of the game. “Coach's decision. I'm not going to question it in the slightest.”

Towns and Edwards have a combined 30% shooting percentage through two games in this series. Looking for reasons why the Wolves are in this predicament? Start there with their two best players.

5. Naz wasn’t enough

The Kia Sixth Man of the Year was the Wolves' best man in Game 2, and in a way, Reid deserved to be the hero.

Not only did he give the Mavericks trouble with his long-range shots – Reid made 7 of 9 three-point shots – but he also had a clear view on the game's final possession.

It caught iron.

Kidd: “They threw the ball to the hot man and I just thought, 'Damn.' Then the ball bounced our way.”

Luka: “I was stressed.”

It wasn't the only late offense that benefited the Mavericks. With 47 seconds left and Dallas trailing by two points, the ball was disallowed to the Mavs. Kidd's objection that the ball had touched Jaden McDaniels before going out of bounds was upheld.

The Mavs didn't just get lucky, they got lucky. And now, after two games, they've won the series.

* * *

Shaun Powell has been covering the NBA for more than 25 years. You can email him here, his archive can be found here and follow him on X.

The views expressed on this site do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.