Beginning 5, Might 25: Luka Magic Strikes In Minnesota – NBA.com

Luka Doncic's game-winning 3 places the Mavs up 2-0 within the West Finals. Plus, prepare for Celtics-Pacers Recreation 3.

When the one shot you hit within the 4th quarter is the game-winner.

THE LINEUP 🏀
Luka, Mavs Win: Doncic hit the game-winning 3 with 3 seconds left to place Dallas up 2-0
Extra Luka Magic: Friday’s game-winner was the most recent in a set of clutch Luka photographs
One Streak Survives: Indy’s unbeaten at dwelling (6-0), Boston’s unbeaten on the highway (4-0)
Elevating His Recreation: Jaylen Brown labored on his recreation and it’s paying off within the playoffs
2000s 2K Membership: Tatum & Brown be a part of an elite record of teammates to attain 2K playoff factors
BUT FIRST … ⏰

Tonight on ABC (8:30 ET), the East Finals resume with Game 3 in Indiana. The Pacers are undefeated at dwelling this postseason, however the Celtics have but to lose on the highway.
Friday night time in L.A., Caitlin Clark and the Fever acquired their first win over Cameron Brink and the Sparks. Clark (11 pts, 10 reb, 8 ast) hit the dagger 3 (and the shrug) to place Indy up 76-71 with 40 seconds left.
1. LUKA WINS IT, MAVS TAKE 2-0 LEAD

Luka Doncic made one shot within the 4th quarter. And it was one of many biggest of his career.
With the Mavs down two with 12.8 seconds left, Luka took the inbounds go, acquired a change to go one-on-one with Rudy Gobert, used his dribble to bounce side-to-side, then stepped again to launch a 24-foot 3 that splashed with three seconds left.
The Wolves had an opportunity for the win as Anthony Edwards discovered Naz Reid open for 3 on the buzzer.
Reid was 7-of-8 from 3 when the shot left his palms. He was 7-of-9 when the buzzer sounded. The miss sealed a 109-108 win and a 2-0 sequence lead for Dallas. | Recap

Luka’s game-winner was the eleventh lead change of the 4th quarter because the groups traded photographs down the stretch. | Must-See Final 5:18
One other Triple-Double: Luka (32 pts, 10 reb, 13 ast) posted his fifth triple-double of the playoffs (matching all different gamers mixed whole) and his fourth prior to now 5 video games.

Comeback Mavs: For the second time in three video games, the Mavs rallied again from an enormous deficit to win by one.
Turning Tables: Final spherical, the Wolves went into Denver and received the primary two video games on the highway earlier than successful the sequence in seven video games.
2. LUKA MAGIC STRIKES IN MINNESOTA

We’ve seen game-winning photographs from Luka Doncic earlier than.
However this was his first on the convention finals stage. And his first to place the Mavs two wins away from their first journey to the Finals since 2011.

Uncommon Air: Luka’s shot was solely the sixth game-winning 3-pointer with 4 seconds or much less within the convention finals of the play-by-play period – and solely the second on the highway.
We needed to hit the archive to observe these clutch buckets once more.
The Historical past: Luka now holds the best scoring common in Recreation 2s in NBA playoff historical past (min. 5 video games performed, best-of-3+ sequence solely).
3. GAME 3: SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE

Collision Course: The Pacers are undefeated on their dwelling flooring this postseason (6-0) but return dwelling dealing with a 2-0 deficit for the second straight sequence.
Tonight, they host the Celtics — who’re unbeaten on the highway within the playoffs (4-0) — in Recreation 3 of the East Finals (8:30 ET, ABC).

Pascal Siakam performed for that Toronto workforce and was acquired by the Pacers this January for his championship pedigree. Tonight, Indy may have him greater than ever.
Pumped-Up Pascal: Siakam, averaging playoff career-highs (min. 20 min/g) in FG% (55.1), 3P% (34.1), and rebounds (7.7) whereas posting 21.7 ppg, is keen to guard dwelling courtroom in Recreation 3.
4. JAYLEN BROWN: A NEW LEVEL

The State of affairs: Jaylen Brown’s 40-point outburst on Thursday gave the Celtics their first Recreation 2 victory of the postseason and a 2-0 lead heading into tonight’s Recreation 3 (8:30 ET, ABC).
The Significance: Brown didn’t simply tie his playoff career-high and match the third-most factors in Celtics historical past in an East Finals recreation — he marked the end result of a season that’s seen him take his recreation to new heights.
The Street: After falling within the 2023 East Finals, Brown returned this season and talked about his need to enhance as a playmaker.

4 months later, he sees the outcomes — utilizing your complete flooring to assault whereas distributing and scoring extra effectively.
The Return: Brown, averaging a playoff career-high in factors (24.8) and FG% (54.4%), has seen his particular person numbers balloon however says the foundation of his motivation comes from final 12 months’s Recreation 7 ECF loss to the Warmth.
5. 2000s 2K CLUB

Talking of Jaylen Brown, he hit 2,000 profession playoff factors on Might 13 (Recreation 4 vs. Cleveland), placing himself and Jayson Tatum on an elite record of teammates to every attain 2K postseason factors since 2000.
The Listing? You already know, simply Shaq & Kobe, KD & Russ, the Splash Bros., and a trio named Tim, Tony & Manu.
So, earlier than you begin your Saturday, watch a couple of of the best 1-2 punches (and an all-time trio) of the previous quarter-century go to work…
Celtics: Jayson Tatum & Jaylen Brown


Lakers: Shaquille O’Neal & Kobe Bryant


Thunder: Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook


Warriors: Stephen Curry & Klay Thompson


Spurs: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili & Tony Parker



Luka Doncic rises to the event, Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Cities fade and Dallas takes management of the sequence.
Luka Doncic hits a stepback 3-pointer over Rudy Gobert with 3.0 seconds remaining to finish the Mavericks' 18-point comeback in Recreation 2.
With Tyrese Haliburton questionable for Recreation 3, Indiana tries to remain unbeaten at dwelling in playoffs and keep away from 3-0 gap.
In the meantime, the Celtics have dominated out Kristaps Porzingis and in addition may very well be with out backup heart Luke Kornet.
Luka Doncic rises to the event, Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Cities fade and Dallas takes management of the sequence.
Luka Doncic hits a stepback 3-pointer over Rudy Gobert with 3.0 seconds remaining to finish the Mavericks' 18-point comeback in Recreation 2.
With Tyrese Haliburton questionable for Recreation 3, Indiana tries to remain unbeaten at dwelling in playoffs and keep away from 3-0 gap.
In the meantime, the Celtics have dominated out Kristaps Porzingis and in addition may very well be with out backup heart Luke Kornet.
Jaylen Brown's 40-point outburst on Thursday gave the Celtics their first Recreation 2 victory of the postseason.
The Pacers are undefeated at dwelling this postseason as they host the Celtics, who’re unbeaten on the highway within the playoffs.
Right here's what you have to know because the Japanese Convention Finals shifts to Indiana for Recreation 3.
Luka Doncic rises to the event, Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Cities fade and Dallas takes management of the sequence.
Luka Doncic hits a stepback 3-pointer over Rudy Gobert with 3.0 seconds remaining to finish the Mavericks' 18-point comeback in Recreation 2.
With Tyrese Haliburton questionable for Recreation 3, Indiana tries to remain unbeaten at dwelling in playoffs and keep away from 3-0 gap.

source