Minnesota
3 thoughts after Dallas defeats Minnesota in Game 3, 116-107
The Dallas Mavericks have proven to be unshakeable after they gutted out a 116-107 Game 3 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. True to this series, the game came down to the wire, but after losing a double-digit first-half lead, the Mavericks went to work late in the fourth and leaned on a fantastic defensive effort and some big shot-making from Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic to put a bow on this fifth straight playoff victory.
Dallas kicked things off strong. Shots were falling early, especially for Derrick Jones Jr who went a perfect 3-of-3 from deep in the first half. Dallas as a team put up a 48/54/89 shooting line in the first half, powering a 60-52 lead at half. It was the first lead the Mavericks have had in this series. While it’s been impressive to watch Dallas come back to win the first two games, it was nice to see the team get out and play with a lead.
Things were going about as well as could be hoped until Karl-Anthony Towns inadvertently kneed Dereck Lively II in the back of the head as Lively was falling after going for a rebound. He was eventually helped off the court but didn’t look steady on his feet. He did not return to the game.
With Dallas adjusting to the loss of Lively, things slumped a bit in the third. An enormous Anthony Edwards dunk triggered a solo 8-0 run from Edwards that tied the game up at 77 all. Dallas stabilized there and, after trading the lead a handful of time the rest of the way, the third quarter ended tied at 87.
No team managed to grab much of an advantage throughout the fourth. With Just over three and a half minutes to go and the game at a 104 stalemate, it was PJ Washington with a big corner three that jolted Dallas’ offense to a crucial cushion upon which they built a 13-to-3 run to end the game.
A Luka lob to Daniel Gafford and-1 dunk was the dagger that put Dallas up nine with under 353 seconds to go.
Beat switch
Without their uber-rookie Lively, the big paint advantage Dallas has enjoyed this series evaporated. The rebounding battle and the points in the paint swung in favor of Minnesota. The Wolves lead the Mavericks 50-to-40 in paint scoring – shooting 77% in the restricted zone, much higher than they have all series – and won the board battle, out-rebounding Dallas 44-to-38.
After proving they could win without the three-pointer in game 1, tonight the Mavs showed that just because they can’t dominate inside doesn’t mean they forgot how to shoot. The team shot 50% on 28 threes in the game. In addition to that, Coach Kidd’s huddle break after game two (1-2-3 free throws, ribbing Kyrie for his missed freebies late in the game), proved to be prophetic. Dallas earned 31 trips to the line — a series high for them — and shot over 82%.
This team loves having a dynamic big-man duo, but they can still win in different ways.
Huddle up
It’s not worth complaining about how a game is reffed. With Tony Brothers on the crew, it was clear what kind of whistle this game was going to have. And, sure enough, with both coaches using their challenges early on close calls, most of the game was being played with no recourse for the players.
There were several occasions, after calls or when Minnesota was putting a run together when frustration could’ve overtaken the squad and taken their head out of the game. It was comforting to see players, rather than make their case to a ref, all huddle up together on the court to reset their mental focus and stay in the game. It was shaping up to be a close game down the stretch, and the Mavericks made sure they were going to give themselves the best chance they could by sticking together. The one tech that was called in this one went not against Luka, not even against a Maverick, but Kyle Anderson.
With foul trouble hurting the Wolves (Gobert, Conley, and Jaden McDaniels all found themselves having to sub out of the game with foul trouble), sticking together and playing smart made a big difference for a squad already without an important rotation piece.
True grit
After the Timberwolves tied it up at 77 midway through the third, it looked like neither team was going to be able to find any breathing room. Down 102-104 with under five to go, Dallas leaned ALL THE WAY in. Irving tied it with a layup, Washington hit a big three for the lead, and then Dallas held Minnesota without a basket for essentially the remainder of the game. Edwards hit a garbage time layup when the outcome was no longer in doubt.
There will rightfully by a ton of chatter about Luka and Kyrie’s elite execution in clutch time, but that defensive stand was something to behold. The Dallas defense looked a little off-kilter without Lively, but they steadied themselves and made sure this game went into the win column.
You don’t have to look much past the box score to see how great a game Doncic had, but he had a sequence during this stretch that goes beyond the stats. After hitting a tough turnaround fadeaway to give Dallas a two-possession lead, he went down on the other end and tied up Anthony Edwards. The resulting jump ball went Dallas’ way and kept the Wolves off the scoreboard.
Minnesota
Boldy, Eriksson Ek help Wild cruise past Stars in Game 1 of Western 1st Round | NHL.com
Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Hartman had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who are the No. 3 seed in the Central Division. Wallstedt made 27 saves in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut, and Zuccarello had three assists.
“I was definitely nervous,” said Wallstedt, a rookie. “I think it shows that it means something to you. I like a little bit of nerves. I think it’s something good. There were definitely some nerves throughout the day and then a little bit extra rolling into the game. But after the national anthem was over and the first couple pucks started coming, you’re good.
“I wanted to play and I felt like I have been going good. I was a little surprised (to get the start). But I was very excited as soon as I got the news. I just wanted to make sure I was ready today.”
Jason Robertson scored, and Jake Oettinger made 23 saves for the Stars, who are the No. 2 seed in the Central.
“We didn’t deserve to win,” Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen said. “I think two power-play goals for them, two a little-bit bounces for them where we had guys in the right spot. Just even keel. Playoffs are like this. Sometimes you lose a game, you can feel like you’re done. But that’s the mentality you need to have, you’ve got to reset and learn from mistakes.
“First 30 minutes, we didn’t win enough battles. They were just that little bit stronger in the battles and that’s why they were able to make us defend more than we want to. Just got to be stronger.”
Game 2 is here on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNNO, Victory+, ESPN, TVAS2, SN360).
“We prepped for a couple days coming into this one. Now, we will gather information from this game and continue to move forward,” Minnesota coach John Hynes said. “For me, it’s game to game and day to day. We want to continue to get better. We won and they [Dallas] lost. It’s not so much being satisfied where you’re at or that’s what it is. We need to continue to find ways to get better.”
Eriksson Ek gave the Wild a 1-0 lead at 5:35 of the first period on the power play. He scored on a one-timer from the left hash marks to finish a tic-tac-toe passing play with Zuccarello and Boldy, who found an open Eriksson Ek with a pass from the goal line.
“I think every team in the playoffs talks about not getting too high or too low. Just enjoy every day and each game and then we will go from there,” Eriksson Ek said. “I think we played pretty good today. The next game is a new game, so we just have to do it over and over every game. We know they are probably not the happiest with that game, so I am sure it’s going to be hard next game.”
Minnesota
ICE agent assault charge marks a ‘milestone’ for Minnesota prosecutors
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault accusing him of involvement in a February road-rage incident.
Trump administration ends Minnesota immigration operation
Border Czar Tom Homan announced the end of Minnesota’s immigration operation after fatal shootings heightened tension and community backlash.
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault, saying the agent was involved in a February road-rage incident during the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., 35, faces two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, according to April 16 Hennepin County court records. He has a nationwide warrant for his arrest.
On Feb. 5, prosecutors said Morgan allegedly drove illegally on the shoulder of a congested Minnesota highway in an unmarked SUV and pointed his weapon at two people in another car.
Morgan is the first agent charged in Operation Metro Surge, the controversial Minneapolis-area federal immigration operation that resulted in two American citizens fatally shot by federal officials, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
The charges “reflect an important milestone in our efforts to seek accountability for the harms inflicted on our community during Operation Metro Surge,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in an April 16 video statement.
Second-degree assault with a gun has a presumptive sentence of 36 months in prison if convicted, she said.
“Mr. Morgan’s conduct was extremely dangerous,” she said, adding his actions could have led to “another disastrous incident” in the community.
Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security immediately responded to email requests for comment. A cell phone listed for Morgan, identified as a Maryland resident, didn’t immediately respond to a call or text message.
The incident came less than two weeks after two Customs and Border Protection officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, during a protest in Minneapolis. Pretti would be the second American killed during Metro Surge after an ICE agent in early January fatally shot Renee Good, 37, while she drove her SUV in Minneapolis near an immigration operation.
Later in February, the Trump administration drew down Metro Surge, which officials called the largest immigration operation in modern American history.
Investigators said they interviewed Morgan, who identified himself as the driver. Morgan told investigators he and the other ICE employee were returning from a surveillance shift. Morgan said he feared for his life and others’ safety, so he pulled up alongside the vehicle and drew his Glock 19 firearm. He said he identified himself as police.
State investigators said neither Morgan nor the other ICE agent reported the incident to an ICE supervisor.
The April 16 warrant, signed by District Court Judge Paul Scoggin, said there was a “substantial likelihood” Morgan would fail to respond to a summons, and officials couldn’t locate him.
On April 18, Daniel Borgertpoepping, a spokesperson for the county attorney’s office, said there is no knowledge of Morgan being arrested yet.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
Minnesota
Reds Brandon Williamson beats Twins in first Minnesota homecoming
Reds’ Brandon Williamson talks Minnesota homecoming, beating Twins
Cincinnati Reds lefty Brandon Williamson pitched into the sixth inning to beat his home-state Minnesota Twins 2-1 in his first pro start in Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS – Brandon Williamson came to this ballpark as a kid, rooted for Joe Mauer and the Twins, maybe even dreamed a little of playing there one day.
“Oh, yeah. Joe Ma,” Williamson said. “That’s my guy.”
By the time that day came, Mauer had a statue outside the stadium, and Williamson had 29 career starts across three big-league seasons for the Cincinnati Reds.
And then the kid from tiny Trimont, Minnesota, came up big enough to beat the Twins in his first professional start in his home state – a 2-1 victory Friday in front of 200 or more personal friends and family from Trimont. And about 31,000 other people.
“It was awesome,” said Williamson, whose personal contingent at the game represented close to one-third of greater Trimont (pop. 705). “It was everything I thought it would be.”
The left-hander didn’t pitch especially deep into the game, getting two batters into the sixth. But on a night made for native Minnesotans, with a game-time temperature of 43 degrees, Williamson looked right at, well, home, pitching to the conditions and setting down the first six batters he faced – and eight of the first nine.
As one local press box wag quipped during the second inning, “These Minnesota boys know how to pitch in the cold.”
A pair of one-out runs in the fourth inning provided the scoring for a Reds team lineup still trying to break free from its early season woes – albeit with the twin obstacles of the weather and All-Star starter Joe Ryan’s presence on the mound for the Twins for the first six innings.
The only two hits off Ryan were doubles in the fourth by Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suárez, sandwiched around a throwing error by third baseman Ryan Kreidler. Suárez’s hit drove in two.
The only run against Williamson scored after he inexplicably followed four strong innings with three consecutive walks to open the fifth, including a four-pitch walk to No. 8 hitter Brooks Lee leading off the inning.
Austin Martin followed the three freebies with a sacrifice fly on a dying liner to the gap in right that Will Benson caught with a slide.
Williamson then rallied to get Luke Keaschall on an inning-ending, 5-4-3 double play started by Suárez, who got the rare start at third base.
“I thought he handled himself really good,” manager Terry Francona said. “He looked like he was having fun pitching. I know he didn’t like walking the bases loaded. But he looked like he was enjoying himself out there. I like that when guys are enjoying competing; then we’re OK.”
Williamson also left the bases loaded in the third after a hit batter and two-out single followed by a walk. He struck out Keaschall on a called third strike that was confirmed after Keaschall challenged.
“I could have kissed whoever was running the ABS,” Williamson said.
The Reds improved to 12-8 and remained tied for first place in the National League Central after their third win in four games – the second in that stretch by a 2-1 score.“That was cool,” said closer Emilio Pagán, who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save in his first outing since experiencing hamstring tightness Tuesday.
“I don’t have a team in my home state (of South Carolina),” Pagán said, “so I don’t know what that feels like. But to pitch against probably his favorite team growing up in front of that many friends and family had to be a surreal feeling. And he handled it great.”
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