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Santiago Leon and Ray Sherrod discuss Mavericks eliminating Timberwolves and advances to NBA Finals.
Contributors
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Ray Sherrod – @ray3473
Mavericks topples Timberwolves, advances to NBA Finals
Luka Doncic had a 20-point first quarter on his way to 36 points for his high this postseason, and the Mavericks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-103 on Thursday night to breeze through the Western Conference finals in five games.
Kyrie Irving also scored 36 points for the Mavericks, who built a 29-point halftime lead on 61% shooting to deflate the once-energized crowd before most fans got up for their first snack break. The Mavs went up by 36 in the third quarter, consistently keeping the Timberwolves offense all out of whack.
“I just had that utmost confidence when I was going to sleep last night and went to shootaround this morning,” Irving said, “just feeling like we were going to play one of our best games.”
The Mavs, the No. 5 seed in the West, have a full week to rest before the NBA Finals begin in Boston on June 6 for the franchise’s first appearance since winning the championship in 2011 when Kidd was playing for them. The Celtics will have had 10 days between games after sweeping Indiana in the Eastern Conference finals.
Anthony Edwards scored 28 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points and 12 rebounds for the third-seeded Wolves, who met their match with the defense-smashing duo of Doncic and Irving after stifling Phoenix in a first-round sweep and then dethroning defending champion Denver in a seven-game series.
The Mavs got 7-foot-1 rookie Dereck Lively II back from the sprained neck that kept him out of the previous game, restoring the complete rim protection duo with Gafford that helped them disrupt Rudy Gobert in the post and just about everyone else who tried to attack the basket. Gafford had 11 points and nine rebounds, and Lively added nine points and eight rebounds.
Chicago Bears to be featured on ‘Hard Knocks’
The Chicago Bears are the subject of this year’s “Hard Knocks” series on HBO, the team announced Thursday.
This season’s first episode will air Aug. 6. Chicago is the first team with a rookie quarterback drafted first overall to be selected for the training camp edition of “Hard Knocks” since the Cleveland Browns with Baker Mayfield in 2018.
“We are honored to feature such an iconic NFL franchise on ‘Hard Knocks,’” NFL Films senior director and supervising producer Shannon Furman said in a statement. “The Chicago Bears have a talented roster, coaching staff, and front office all determined to match the expectations of a hungry fan base. We are thankful to the entire organization for opening their doors to us for what is sure to be an exciting training camp.”
The Bears were one of the NFL’s most interesting teams this offseason, as they drafted Caleb Williams first overall in April.
Dolphins sign Waddle to 3-year, $84.75M extension
The Miami Dolphins have reached an agreement with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle on a three-year, $84.75-million extension, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The deal includes $76 million guaranteed, per Schefter.
Chargers have signed former OT Alex Leatherwood
PREDICTIONS
Mavs at Celtics
RS: Celtics
Borussa Dortmund vs Real Madrid in Wembley RS: Real Madrid