The Dallas Mavericks won the Western Conference gauntlet, earning a trip to the NBA Finals with their Game 5 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in hostile territory.

The celebration at center court was rained over by boos plus cheers, and Dončic was named Western Conference Finals MVP. He said the award represented the team’s work.

Kyrie Irving said, “Boston’s in the way, in between our goal.”

Yet early, Rudy Gobert forced two successful switches, scoring at close range for the Wolves. Karl-Anthony Towns scored two putbacks. And Anthony Edwards logged a putback dunk and finished on the break.

But Luka Dončic was as unforgiving as the Terminator, outscoring the Timberwolves by himself. He connected on four 3-pointers, made an eight-foot floater, shot twice over drop coverage and powered through Jaden McDaniels to the nail for a jumper.

He also picked up two dimes in the first quarter- a lob to Lively on a pick-and-roll set and a skip pass around a blitz to Irving, who broke into the lane for a layup.

Through 12 minutes, Don Luka had 20 points on eight of 11 shots, with two rebounds and two assists. And the guests led the hosts 35-19.

Defensively, the Mavericks were slow to contest shots behind the arc. Still, the Timberwolves bricked makeable looks, downing just one in the second quarter- a pull-up by Edwards on the wing after dropping Dante Exum with his dribble, cutting his team’s deficit to 20 points.

On the other side, Dončic maneuvered to the baseline, swishing a bucket over Gobert and made a catch-and-shoot trifecta on the right wing.

Yet, Irving was the star of the period, working around traps and supplying five baskets with no misses, attacking at short and long range. He totaled 15 points in the frame.

The Mavericks were ahead at halftime 69-40. Additionally, the group had 24 paint points, six on the break, two via second chances, eight off turnovers and 10 from the bench.

The Timberwolves accumulated 22 interior points, two in the open court, eight on extra tries, four off turnovers and two from the reserves.

Then the Mavs emerged from intermission, running a pick-and-roll set with Dončic and P.J. Washington, resulting in a lob for the latter.

Dončić carried on, registering three of four baskets in the interval. The Wolves failed to realize how he devoured blitzes up top, sending two at him, and he quickly passed to Dereck Lively II in the middle, who made the read to the left wing to Irving and Jaden Hardy.

Next, Irving danced on the right side, canning a long two and step-back three over Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

Washington contributed five points for Dallas in the quarter, too.

Defensively, the Mavs couldn’t stop Towns on the go, fouling him multiple times, and he made four of 10 baskets in the third. And Edwards’ deep shot was on target, burying three triples.

Yet, the fourth period began with the Mavericks ahead 97-73.

The Timberwolves resembled a wounded fighter, backpedaling in the ring with their jaw dangling as blood drips to the canvas.

But there was no time to relent. The Mavericks closed the game, producing 11 of 20 fourth-quarter baskets, led by Irving’s seven points.

The Timberwolves outscored the Mavericks in the last 12 minutes by three points, but it was inconsequential.

The Mavericks won 124-103. Furthermore, the squad had 48 paint points, eight on the break, 11 via second chances, 14 off turnovers and 24 from the bench.

Dončić (36), Irving (36), Washington (12) and Daniel Gafford (11) were the Mavericks’ double-digit scorers.

The Wolves had 46 interior points, 10 in the open court, 14 on extra tries, eight off turnovers and 23 from the reserves.

Edwards (28) and Towns (28) were the Wolves’ double-digit scorers.

At the postgame presser, Mavs coach Jason Kidd was asked about his team’s preparation for the Boston Celtics in the championship round. He said, the Mavericks will encounter a five spread out offense. “Boston shoots the three at a high rate… they’ve been there before, they’re well coached and this is another great test.”

The Mavericks’ previous two Finals trips were in 2006, losing in six to the Miami Heat, and 2011, beating the Heat in six. For the latter, Kidd was second in minutes (35.4) and first in assists (7.4) at age 37.

The Pacers tried to prolong the inevitable, but the Celtics locked up the hosts in the last three-and-a-half minutes to sweep the series and advance to the NBA Finals. Gainbridge Fieldhouse was rocking like a madhouse, but most home supporters dispersed, and the cheers of rival fans echoed through the building as Gang Green celebrated at center court.

Team governor Wyc Grousbeck dedicated the win to former Trail Blazer and Celtic Bill Walton, who died of cancer on Memorial Day Monday.

Coach Joe Mazzulla said, “As a coach, the greatest gift you can have is a group of guys that trust you…”

Next, Jaylen Brown was handed the Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy by former Celtic great Cedric Maxwell. He briefly savored the moment and made clear the objective is to “get some more.”

Yet early, Indiana’s Andrew Nembhard downed two mid-range jumpers off the dribble. Pascal Siakam swished two fadeaways in the paint. And TJ McConnell blasted through interior protections.

Nembhard continued to produce, setting up Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner and McConnell, but the the second half wasn’t as prosperous for his top running mates. Siakam misfired a right-wing tray behind Turner’s pin down and bricked two in the corners, and McConnell converted 33% of attempts.

But Jayson Tatum and Brown were unstoppable, attacking the basket. Jrue Holiday shot efficiently and hauled in nine boards. And Derrick White ripped the ball from Turner plus asphyxiated the passing lanes with five steals and sunk the dagger into the Pacers’ chest with a corner three with 45 seconds left.

Brown accidentally clipped McConnell in mid-air in the face while going for a loose ball, sending Indiana’s guard violently to the floor on his backside. As the Pacers were up six points with seven minutes left, it was ruled a common foul when it should’ve been flagrant.

Yet Brown still had his finest moments in the fourth quarter. He canned two 3-pointers, pivoted past Toppin in the lane for an eight-foot floater, grazed Siakam’s kick out, causing a turnover and switched onto Nembhard’s drive and denied his shot at the cup as the game was tied at 102 with a minute left.

The Celtics won 105-102. On top of that, the group had 48 paint points, 14 on the break, 11 via second chances, nine off turnovers and 10 from the bench.

Brown averaged 29.8 points on 51.7% shooting, including 37% from long range, with five rebounds and three assists per game in the series. He received five of the nine votes for East Finals MVP. Tatum had the remaining four.

The Celtics will make their 23rd Finals appearance and they outscored the Pacers by 27 points through four games.

The Pacers whacked the hobbled Knickerbockers in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. Vibrations of Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau’s curses could be felt at Central Park. The hosts conceded 67.1% of field goals. And supporters are still stuck with memories of greatness, and a growing number of them didn’t see it live or in person.

To make matters worse, the basketball gods showed their cruelty; Jalen Brunson fractured his left hand, and OG Anunoby lasted five minutes before the masterminds on the sideline said, “Hey, maybe he shouldn’t be playing on his mangled hamstring.”

Josh Hart also gave a brave and dumb effort, playing with an abdominal injury. His cojones got him a standing ovation after 37 brutal minutes. In Game 7 and the series, his efforts are reminiscent of Boxer in George Orwell’s Animal Farm- the horse who worked until he couldn’t stand.

Yet early, Pascal Siakam was unleashed, downing five of six baskets on a pick-and-pop jumper, cut, and transition attacks.

Tyrese Halliburton dribbled inside the lane for a turnaround jumper and hit four trays.

And Aaron Nesmith, TJ McConnell plus Andrew Nembhard defended New York’s Brunson, holding him to three of eight first-quarter field goals.

Donte DiVincenzo was the high Knick, tallying four left-side jump shots for a dozen marks on 44.4% accuracy.

Through 12 minutes, the Pacers led 39-27, registering 76.2% of attempts to the hosts’45.8%.

Subsequently, the visitors neutralized Brunson, coming off screens downhill, and successfully contested Miles McBride’s deep shots and layup on time. But they couldn’t restrain Alec Burks from supplying 14 points, pressuring the rim and pulling up from midrange.

Yet, the Pacers’ offense feasted, producing 13 of 17 shots. Nesmith, Nembhard, McConnell and Myles Turner each logged two baskets.

The Pacers were ahead 70-55 at halftime. On top of that, the guests had 24 paint points, three on the break, five via second chances, four off turnovers and 15 from the bench.

The Pacers became the first team in NBA history to score 70 points in the first half of a Game 7 on the road on 76.3% shooting.

The Knicks showed admirable pride, cutting their deficit from 22 to 15, but they held on like a prize fighter three rounds away from getting stopped. They had 24 interior points, three in the open court, eight on extra tries, eight off turnovers and 20 from the reserves.

Then the Pacers follow up with a strong third quarter out of intermission. Nesmith added 11 more points, shooting at the elbow and driving into the lane. Haliburton finished a layup on the break and splashed two 3-pointers. And McConnell made two close-range buckets.

Defensively, the Pacers were burned for five of 11 trifectas, being slow to recover to the handoff up top, not setting a high enough pick-up point in transition and getting shot over.

In the third quarter, Brunson hurt his left hand and was subbed out with four minutes left. He didn’t return.

Next, the fourth quarter began with the guests up 101-84.

The Knicks made six of 12 baskets to open the frame, but they were still behind 17 points with five minutes left. On the other side, the Pacers powered up, notching seven of 12 looks in the same period.

The Knicks were so battered that Hart logged three fourth-quarter minutes, and Precious Achiuwa and Alec Burks had 11.

The Pacers won 130-109. Furthermore, the group had 52 paint points, 11 on the break, six via second chances, 15 off turnovers and 28 from the bench.

The Pacers’ double-digit scorers were Haliburton (26), Nembhard (20), Siakam (20), Nesmith (19), Turner (17), and McConnell (12).

The Knicks had 38 paint points, 17 in the open court, 14 on extra tries, 12 off turnovers and 38 from the reserves.

The Knicks’ leading scorers were DiVincenzo (39), Burks (26, Brunson (17) and Hart (10).

The Pacers tied the second most field goal attempts ever made in a Game 7, per NBA Communications.

The Pacers will now face the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said postgame, “When you win a Game 7 at Madison Square Garden, you’ve made history.”

Haliburton said his group is the deepest in the league and shouted out the bench. “We got five, six guys ready on the bench at all times.”

Vintage Pat Riley emerged from his cave for his end-of-the-season presser, criticizing and praising his group. He also rebuked the idea of a rebuild because he thinks a healthy Jimmy Butler can be a 1A player in the Postseason.

He started with an indication that there must be a change to the team’s approach to winning. Player availability is a big deal to the Heat and so are tweaks to the offense and defense. Which means he expects more from coach Erik Spoelstra and the trainers.

When asked about the shelf life of the Heat’s build as it approaches its sixth season together, Riley initially told a story about telling LeBron James in a meeting after the 2011 Finals about “going to work on the roster” by adding depth. Yet that team hadn’t burned itself out by playing so long together.

As an anti-rebuilder, he doubled down and said his goal is to keep the ride going. “You start talking about the Draft more than anything else right now.” But on the current squad, he said everyone is bothered by not having claimed a title despite its success over the last five seasons.

Regarding Butler’s second extension, Riley said, “We don’t have to do that for a year. We have not discussed that internally right now, but we have to look at making that kind of commitment… We’ll see.”

Butler, who will be age 35 in September and who has played in 74.4% of the Heat’s regular season games since 2019-20, is on notice that the Godfather expects his top earner to be on the court more often. Riley also shared that he had spoken “thoroughly” with Butler’s agent, Bernard Lee, before last season about attendance.

Answering about his feelings on rest and missed time, Riley said, “This whole injury reporting stuff… I can remember when there was a time we never reported any injury because you then became a target.”

As a point of reference to Riley’s mentality, when he was coach of the Lakers in 1988, he permitted James Worthy to play in the All-Star Game with left knee tendinitis after the team’s public relations department said he would not. And his brother Len passed away at age 52 of an illness the Friday before the exhibition he coached for the West stars.

He isn’t a fan of the 65-game rule either because he thinks it gives players an excuse to miss 17 outings.

Furthermore, the Don said Tyler Herro is fragile and needs to make some adjustments but highlighted his work ethic. Then he said Herro is a starter when asked if he agreed with Udonis Haslem, the former Heatles’ captain and current vice president of basketball development, who recently commented on ESPN that the group is better with him as a sixth man.

Bam Adebayo needs to “expand his game.” Riley cited Magic Johnson making changes to become a better shooter and post up player to pick up his scoring.

PS: Terry Rozier is still using a neck brace and is “feeling good,” according to Riley.

Riley wasn’t thrilled with Butler’s comment about an alternative first-round outcome with the Boston Celtics had he been healthy enough to play. He said, “If you’re not on the court playing against Boston or on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut and [stop] your criticism of those teams.”

And he’s trying to get away with blaming the 2011 Finals loss on not having enough depth, like LeBron James recently has on episode three of the Mind the Game podcast. The real reason was James getting outplayed by Jason Terry.

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