The Dallas Mavericks’ superstar Luka Doncic delivered a clutch performance on Tuesday night, drilling a 32-foot step-back 3-pointer in the final minute to secure a thrilling 120-114 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The sensational play evoked vivid memories of last season’s Western Conference finals, where Doncic’s heroics propelled the Mavs to a 4-1 series win over the Wolves.
With just over a minute remaining and the Mavericks clinging to a precarious lead, Doncic took matters into his own hands. The 24-year-old Slovenian phenom dribbled near the Timberwolves’ halfcourt logo before unleashing a high-arcing step-back jumper that swished through the net, extending Dallas’ advantage to eight points and effectively sealing the win.
That’s what I f—ing do.
Luka Doncic, after hitting the clutch 3-pointer
A Familiar Scene for Timberwolves Fans
For Timberwolves fans, the sight of Doncic draining a dagger three was all too familiar. In Game 2 of last year’s playoff series, the All-NBA guard hit a nearly identical step-back jumper over defensive stalwart Rudy Gobert to give the Mavericks a stunning last-second victory and a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd couldn’t help but draw comparisons between the two clutch shots. “We’ve seen this movie before,” Kidd remarked after the game. “He loves the opportunity to win the game. He’s not scared, and he stepped up and made a big shot.”
Doncic’s Dominant Performance
Despite dealing with a sore right knee, which he appeared to aggravate in the second quarter, Doncic put together another stellar outing. The four-time All-Star finished with 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists, showcasing his ability to take over games in crunch time.
Doncic’s co-star, Kyrie Irving, also played a vital role in the Mavericks’ victory. The dynamic point guard poured in a team-high 35 points, with 25 coming in the second half, as he and Doncic combined for 16 of Dallas’ 21 points in the final 7:15 of the game.
It’s just winning time. I knew that we needed to create some separation in the game just to continue to ride on that confidence, and it worked out well for us.
Kyrie Irving on his and Doncic’s late-game heroics
A Promising Start for the Mavericks
The win improved the Mavericks’ record to 3-1 on the young season, providing a glimpse of the team’s immense potential with Doncic and Irving leading the charge. As the duo continues to develop chemistry and gel with their supporting cast, many believe Dallas has the firepower to make another deep playoff run.
For now, Doncic and the Mavericks will savor their hard-fought victory over the Timberwolves, a team that pushed them to the brink in last year’s postseason. With a long season ahead, every win counts, and Tuesday night’s thriller in Minnesota could prove to be a pivotal moment for a Dallas squad with championship aspirations.
