The Dallas Mavericks advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011 after closing out the series with the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1.
Luka Doncic and company took game number 5 in Minneapolis 124:103, and so the Slovenian star will play in the finals for the first time.
The Mavericks lost the previous game at home, but got off to a hot start tonight as Doncic scored 20 points in the first half and his team had a 29-point lead at the break. Dallas' lead grew to 36 points in the third quarter, and the Timberwolves had no chance of a comeback until the end.
Doncic finished with 36 points (63.6 percent shooting), 10 rebounds and 5 assists, Daniel Gafford added 26 points and Kyrie Irving had 17. For Minnesota, Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony-Towns each scored 28 points, but neither another player on the team failed to reach the 10-point mark.
Dallas will play in the NBA Finals for the third time in its history and first since 2011, when current coach Jason Kidd was part of the team that won the Mavericks' only title. The battles with the champion of the East Boston Celtics begin on June 7 at 3:30 Bulgarian time, and Boston will have the home advantage. /BGNES
