Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Don Luka and the Wild Horses turned the Wolves into pelts

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.