The 2024 Western Conference Finals of the Minnesota Timberwolves versus the Dallas Mavericks was a performance of the best basketball players and brand of competition. Luka Dončić put in a man of the match performance averaging over 30 points a game and multiple triple-doubles, culminating in a game winning three pointer at the buzzer in Game 2.
Kyrie Irving added to the work of Dončić with prolific scoring including the 36 points he poured into his side for the opening win of his final Game 5. Notwithstanding a stellar effort by Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Timberwolves fell short of outshining the Mavericks offensively. Let’s know Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks match player stats.
Pre-Game Expectations: Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks
Leading up to the 2024 Western Conference Finals were high expectations of one of the exciting bouts in the 2024 seasons between the Minnesota Timberwolves versus the Dallas Mavericks. The Timberwolves had just pulled off a Game 7 comeback revelry over the reigning champion Denver Nuggets, boasting the best defense of the NBA. Their potent frontcourt pairing of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert was supposed to overwhelm the paint on paper against athletic big men of Dallas.
On the opposite side however, the Mavericks came into the series hot off upsetting the number one seed Oklahoma City Thunder. In front of the league’s leading scorer in Luka Dončić, shooting 33.9 points per game, and Kyrie Irving at the rear curtain, Dallas was ready to take on Minnesota’s defense.
The regular-season series gave the edge to the Timberwolves who won three of four confrontations. Nonetheless, the acquisition late into the season of Dallas P. J. Washington and Daniel Gafford made them quite a formidable team for a toss up series.
First Half Highlights: Key Player Performances
Dallas Mavericks beat Minnesota Timberwolves 108–105 in Game 1 of the 2024 Western Conference Finals with the help of an impressive first-half performance of Kyrie Irving. Irving had scored 24 of his 30 points before half-time and had just kept Dallas level in spite of a poor start. His aggressive drives and his timely mid-range shots threw the Minnesota defense off rhythm, and established the base for the Mavericks offense.
On the Timberwolves’ side Jaden McDaniels became a surprising offensive catalyst as he scored 24 points and made six out of nine three-point shots. His sharpshooting was desperately needed because particularly Ashley Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns were having difficulties finding a rhythm.
Although Dallas shot just 24% from beyond the arc in the first half, they were too dominant in the paint and almost flawless from the foul line for the game to ever get out of reach. The foundations were laid for a great second half, where each team highlighted its strengths and built on the playing of its important players when occasion arose.
Second Half Showdown: Decisive Moments and Stats
The second-half of Game 1 in the 2024 Western Conference Finals between Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks was a clinic on clutch acumen and planning for the unexpected.
Luka Dončić reclaimed control in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of his total 33 points, including a 7-point burst in 63 seconds, which started an 13-0 run that converted a deficit to a 97-89 lead for Dallas. His ability to defend was also on visible ground as he broke up a lob to Rudy Gobert with a minute to go therefore saving the Mavericks lead.
Despite Timberwolves’ hot three-point shooting in the first half, Dallas’s defensive changes kept them from knocking down more than seven total in the second half. The Mavericks’ stellar performance from the jaws of the paint (62–38 over Minnesotas) and the near perfect free-throw shooting (16 of 17) helped the Mavericks win 108 to 105.
Not only did this performance bring Dallas a 1–0 series advantage but it also built-in fighting and the ability to deliver in pressure situations, that set the stage for the rest of the puck.
Comprehensive Player Stats: Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks
The opening two games of the 2024 Western Conference Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves showcased standout performances and pivotal moments.
| Total | Dallas Mavericks | Minnesota Timberwolves | |
| Total Matches | 81 | 49 | 32 |
| NBA Regular season | 72 | 45 | 27 |
| NBA Playoffs | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| NBA Preseason | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| NBA Summer League | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Game 1: Mavericks 108, Timberwolves 105
Dallas Mavericks:
- Luka Dončić: 33 points (12-26 FG), 6 rebounds, 8 assists
- Kyrie Irving: 30 points (12-23 FG), 5 rebounds, 4 assists
- P.J. Washington: 13 points, 7 rebounds
- Daniel Gafford: 10 points, 9 rebounds
Minnesota Timberwolves:
- Jaden McDaniels: 24 points (6-9 3PT), 4 rebounds
- Anthony Edwards: 19 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists
- Karl-Anthony Towns: 16 points (6-20 FG), 7 rebounds
Dallas secured the win with a late-game surge, highlighted by Dončić’s clutch scoring and Irving’s consistent offensive presence.
Game 2: Mavericks 109, Timberwolves 108
Dallas Mavericks:
- Luka Dončić: 32 points (10-23 FG), 10 rebounds, 13 assists
- Kyrie Irving: 20 points (4-7 3PT), 4 rebounds, 6 assists
- Daniel Gafford: 16 points (8-10 FG), 5 rebounds, 5 blocks
Minnesota Timberwolves:
- Naz Reid: 23 points (8-13 FG), 2 rebounds
- Anthony Edwards: 21 points (5-17 FG), 5 rebounds, 7 assists
- Rudy Gobert: 16 points, 10 rebounds
Dončić’s triple-double and game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds propelled the Mavericks to a 2-0 series lead.
These performances underscore the Mavericks’ offensive prowess and the Timberwolves’ need to adjust defensively as the series progresses.
Analyzing the MVPs: Standout Players and Their Impact
The 2024 Western Conference Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves were two great teams’ landmark performances that made an impression throughout the series.
Luka Dončić won the series MVP award with an average of 32.4 pts, 9.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game with a field goals percentage of 47.3% and from outside 43.4%. His leadership, clutch play including a game-winner three pointer in Game 2, led to Dallas’s 4-1 series win.
Kyrie Irving played well with Dončić, providing 27.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game and shooting 49.0% from the field. His ability to score consistently, as well as veteran presence, were a stabilising and momentum building block for the Mavericks in the entire series.
On the Timberwolves’ part, Anthony Edwards put his stardom on the increase, averaging 24.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game and shooting 43.0% from the field. His active play and his ability to cope with hardship virtually ensured that Minnesota would stay a competitive team, despite the team’s problems.
Further, Dereck Lively II went down in NBA history by making 100% (16-for-16) from the field in series thus contributing efficient scoring and energy off the bench to Dallas bag of tricks.
These remarkable performances highlighted the high quality of competition achieved by individual performances in the airing.
Final Word
The Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks also provided an engaging story of star power, tactical brilliance, and moments of decision making. Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving came up big for Dallas, ushering them to the series commanding victory that knives Minnesota’s young core to pieces. Whether clutch performance or historic stat line, this game was an example of what playoff basketball should look like at its best with memorable moments along the way to soothe NBA fans’ 2024 postseason aches.
