Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving Thrill NBA Fans as Mavs Win vs. Anthony Edwards, T-Wolves
Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVOctober 30, 2024
Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images
Anthony Edwards couldn’t seem to miss in the first quarter. But Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić were not to be denied.
The former led the Dallas Mavericks with 35 points to go along with five assists and four boards in Tuesday’s 120-114 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
NBA on TNT @NBAonTNTKyrie is heating up in the third 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UBm0vjtrtz
NBA @NBAKyrie (32 PTS) goes glass while hitting the floor 😮💨
Mavs lead by 5 in the 4th on TNT… pic.twitter.com/niUwLZcMZW
NBA on TNT @NBAonTNTKYRIE’S UP TO 35 😳
We’ve got a close one on TNT! pic.twitter.com/DBOXsn7kHg
Dončić flirted with a triple-double, meanwhile, finishing with 24 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
NBA on TNT @NBAonTNTLuka magic in motion 🪄
DAL-MIN second half is LIVE on TNT! pic.twitter.com/aLkEIEfHlE
Oh, and how’s this for the dagger?
NBA @NBALOGO LUKA 😱
Puts the Mavs up 8 late on TNT! pic.twitter.com/R0wtyukhY2
Bleacher Report @BleacherReportLUKA. pic.twitter.com/sGdivthhar
Edwards was incredible through the first 12 minutes, putting up 24 points. He cooled off a bit from there, however, perhaps impacted in part by a tough fall to the floor at one point in the first half.
NBA @NBAAnthony Edwards’ 1st quarter tonight:
🔥 24 PTS
🔥 8-10 FGM
🔥 6 3PM pic.twitter.com/Cud3EZxdg6
Julius Randle (20 points, seven rebounds, seven assists) tried to pick up some of the slack, but the Wolves simply didn’t have any consistent answers for Irving’s scoring and Dončić’s playmaking, even as Dončić himself had to shake off what appeared to be a leg injury.
That duo received its fair share of the love on social media following the win:
mdc @Mntrll_Luka and Kyrie rn pic.twitter.com/rZ8i0ajGYJ
John Hollinger @johnhollingerLuka drains a long dagger 3 then immediately starts yelling F bombs at some fans along the sideline. He and Kyrie have been too much in crunch time.
Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahonFamiliar sight: Mavs making all kinds of clutch shots in Minnesota. And Luka Doncic roaring — at a fan this time — after swishing a tough stepback 3.
Shea Serrano @SheaSerranokyrie irving sees julius randle guarding him and hears those death sirens from kill bill
Jon Krawczynski @JonKrawczynskiThe Mavs are freaking killers man. You just can’t make a mistake against them or Kyrie or Luka will bury you
Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 @JoshEberleyKyrie a magician
tim cato @tim_catothere are better players, of course, but i’m not sure how many people alive have perfected the skill of basketball more than Kyrie Irving has
Dan Devine @YourManDevineWell, at least that time Minnesota had a good defensive guard on Luka out there. That’s something.
Isaac Harris @IsaacLHarristhose fans must hate luka so much
MFFL Moe @MFFLMoeLuka such a cold ass mfer
Minnesota fans are getting sick and tired of seeing the Irving and Dončić duo. The pair torched the Timberwolves during last season’s Western Conference Finals, wrapping up the series in five games. Dončić averaged 32.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists in that series, while Irving added 27 points per game.
The Wolves didn’t do themselves many favors on Tuesday night, committing 20 turnovers, though they somewhat offset it with 33 assists and 19-of-39 shooting from three. Ultimately, however, the same thing that ended their 2023-24 season proved to be an issue early in this campaign—they simply had no answers for Luka and Kyrie.
In their defense, few teams do.
