By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Minnesota Timberwolves refused to go home and handed the Dallas Mavericks a huge stunner after snatching the Game 4 victory, 105-100, in the ongoing Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs on May 29, 2024.
For the fourth straight game, both squads engaged in a grueling nip-and-tuck affair and all came down to the final five minutes of regulation.
With only six minutes remaining in the game, the Mavericks held on to their slim 88-87 advantage. However, the Timberwolves finally imposed their will in the game and received a clutch performance from Karl Anthony-Towns and Anthony Edwards.
Towns was the main reason why Minnesota was able to pull away in the game after draining three clutch threes in just two minutes. Aside from his revived shooting stroke, the big man also generated points in the paint that helped them maintain their built lead in the final crucial stretch.
Edwards then operated in the middle of the key and sent in the fatal dagger when he banked a difficult leaning shot that extended their lead to eight points, 100-92.
Kyrie Irving tried to keep the Mavericks afloat after sinking a floater in the lane that pulled them to within three points, 100-97.
Just when Dallas thought they could garner some stops just like what they did in the past three games, Edwards this time smelled blood and hit the biggest jumper of the game with only 44 seconds left that increased their cushion back to five points, 102-97.
Luka Doncic was able to counter back with a huge trey that trimmed their deficit to just three points, 103-100, but he missed his free throw attempt that could’ve pulled them to just a deuce.
Off a timeout, Naz Reid then finished Minnesota’s well-designed inbound play that was enough to help them stay alive in the finals and avoid getting swept.
Edwards led Minnesota’s fight back with a near triple-double performance of 29 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists while Towns had his best performance of the series so far with 25 markers, five boards, and a dime.
Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert also stepped up for the Timberwolves as the duo scored 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Dallas will look to finish the series and advance to the NBA Finals if they win Game 5 on the road in front of a hostile Minnesota crowd on May 31, 2024.
