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The Timberwolves and Mavericks meet tonight at Target Center in Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals. Staff writer Chris Hine offers this direct report:
8 p.m.: The Wolves lead 33-27 in one quarter
The Wolves got some scoring from their partners as they led 33-27 after one quarter.
Anthony Edwards had eight points for the Wolves, but they got some key contributions from Jaden McDaniels and Kyle Anderson.
McDaniels led them early after having back-to-back 20-point plus games to close out the series against Denver. McDaniels, guarding Luke Danzik on the other end of the floor, had three early threes to put the Wolves up 15-8. The Mavericks started the game 0-for-4 from three-point range, and no one except Doncic and Kyrie Irving hit a bucket in the game’s first 7 minutes, 24 seconds.
The Wolves led 21-12 after an Anthony Edwards three, but Dallas responded with an 11-0 run from there. Irving had a hard time controlling the Wolves, and he scored 13 in the quarter. The run started with a four-point possession for the Mavericks when PJ Washington hit a three and Rudy Gobert fouled Derek Lively. Lively hits the free throw.
But Kyle Anderson, who hasn’t scored much this season, scored seven straight points for the Wolves, who responded with a 10-2 burst to end the quarter after trailing 25-23. Anderson’s seven points were one three, his first of the postseason.
7 p.m.: Edwards makes the All-NBA team
Wolves guard Anthony Edwards was named to the All-NBA Second Team after his second All-Star berth. It was his first all-league honor. Here’s a look at the teams, the effect Edwards’ selection will have on his contract and the team’s salary cap.
Shootaround: McDaniels praised, but who will guard Kyrie?
On Tuesday, Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels earned his first All-Defensive Team accolades as he was voted to the league’s second team.
McDaniels’ dogged perimeter defense has been the perfect complement to Rudy Kobert on the interior and is one of the main reasons the Wolves have the No. 1 defense in the league this season.
McDaniels is no stranger to guarding some of the best players in the league, including Dallas guard Luka Doncic, who would partner him for several Western Conference Finals appearances.
In Game 1 of the shootaround, Danczyk claimed three of his first-round defenders in the league, and he named Oklahoma City’s Le Dart, Boston’s Jrue Holiday and his Dallas teammate Derrick Jones.
He then quickly issued an addendum to his statement to include McDaniels.
“He can defend one through five, for sure, he’s a great defender,” Danczyk said. “When you asked about the top 3, I forgot about McDaniels. There will be a few [mad] If I don’t include him. He is definitely top 3. He’s incredible, he’s got long arms, he’s locked in and he’s going to be tough to go against.”
Wolves guard Anthony Edwards said after the Game 7 win over Denver that he was guarding Kyrie Irving, but the reality is that the Wolves could use a rotating case of Edwards, McDaniels, Nikhil Alexander-Walker and Kyle Anderson (on Donczyk). ) at some point in the series.
Edwards played the best ball defense of his career throughout the playoffs, earning four second-team votes for the All-Defensive team, 62 more than McDaniels. Asked what he thought about getting those four votes, he replied, “Just four votes?”
