MINNEAPOLIS — Kyrie Irving was aggressive early in the Dallas Mavericks’ 108-105 Game 1 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves to take a 1-0 series lead. He scored 24 of his 30 points in the first half, achieving his highest-scoring half of any game he’s played this season after entering the game with a first-half average of 6.0 points per game in the postseason.
After the Timberwolves clinched a series victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of their Western Conference semifinal series, Anthony Edwards was eager to call out his matchup will be Irving in his next series. “It’s gonna be fun, man,” he said. “My matchup is gonna be Kyrie [Irving], so that’s gonna be fun. We’re gonna see what I can do versus him.”
May 22, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) controls the ball against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) i the first quarter during game one of the western conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports / Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Irving, who watched the Nuggets-Timberwolves Game 7 with his family at home, told TNT during his appearance on “Inside the NBA” that he used Edwards’ comment as motivation in Game 1.
“I used it as motivation,” Irving said. “When I was sitting at home and I saw it, I was like, ‘It’s just a nod of respect.’ I knew what type of game it was going to be, for Game 1 and also for the rest of the series.
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“I was at home with my family watching Game 7 and then Ant comes out and says, ‘I got Kyrie.’ That’s a no-fear mentality, and that’s why we love Ant,” Irving explained.
Irving told reporters in the postgame press conference that he admires Edwards’s “no fear mentality,” which leads to a respectful head-to-head match on the court.
“Yeah, no, as a peer, man, I love that. I love it, man,” Irving said. “There’s nothing better when Ant was a little bit younger, I’m sure he was watching me, and when he was in high school, I was watching him. For me, it’s one of those exciting matchups that I look forward to, too.
“Right after the game, it was funny because he said it right then and there, and I think the whole world was looking like, ‘Okay, you better know what you’re talking about.’ I respect that, and that no-fear mentality he has is why I love him as a competitor and as a person,” Irving continued.
“But when we’re on that court, I know he’s going to give his all, I’m going to give my all,” Irving concluded. “And at the end of the game, it’s all up, and we’re in between those lines. He knows what it is, and I know what it is.”
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Along with Irving’s dynamic performance, Luka Doncic delivered a pivotal 33 ponts, eight assists, six rebounds, and three steals. P.J. Washington’s 13 points and Daniel Gafford’s 10 points rounded out the double fgure scoring nights. However, Dereck Lively II was an instrumental difference-maker with nine points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks, anchoring the defense and closed the game.
Next matchup involving Irving and Edwards will take place on Friday at Target Center. Minnesota will be motivated to avoid facing a 2-0 series deficit while having to travel to Dallas for the next two games of the series.
Stick with MavericksGameday for more coverage of the Dallas Mavericks throughout the NBA Playoffs.
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Despite heightened security around World Cup matches at Dallas Stadium, Arlington police say eight people have now been arrested for attempting to enter games without tickets.
The latest arrests occurred Saturday during the Argentina vs. Jordan match. NBC 5 Investigates found similar incidents have happened multiple times during the tournament.
Police said all eight people arrested have been charged with criminal trespass.
On Saturday, Arlington police arrested 32-year-old New Zealand national Catalina Gambadoro, 26-year-old Argentine national Alejo Melgar and 18-year-old Kareem Kakour, who has an Indiana address.
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According to police, the three were apprehended quickly and did not make it inside the stadium. However, police said at least four people arrested this month were able to gain access to the venue before being caught.
NBC 5 Investigates obtained police reports detailing arrests made on June 22 during the Argentina vs. Austria match.
According to the reports:
• Gerardo Nielsen, 46, of Cordoba, Spain, and Juan Ignacio Campoamor, 35, of Hollywood, Florida, unlawfully entered AT&T Stadium property without effective consent. Police said both had noticed that entry without a ticket was prohibited and pushed through a hole in a fence to gain access.
• Leandro Ayala, 46, of Buenos Aires, Argentina, allegedly jumped a fence to gain access to AT&T Stadium without purchasing a ticket. Police said he entered the property without the owner’s effective consent despite notice that entry without a ticket was prohibited.
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• Federico Llach, 45, of Plano, allegedly crossed ticketed barriers and trespassed into AT&T Stadium.
Earlier in the tournament, on June 14, police arrested Ryan King, 39, during the Japan vs. Netherlands match. According to a police report, King attempted to climb a security fence and enter the stadium before it opened to the public.
Officers quickly located and arrested him. The report states that officers determined he intended to watch the match without purchasing a ticket.
Security measures at the stadium include vehicle barriers, metal fencing around the perimeter, and a heavy police presence at entry checkpoints.
After the initial arrests, Arlington police said they were reviewing security procedures. It remains unclear whether any security changes have been implemented following the additional arrests.
J.D. Miles is an award-winning reporter who has been covering North Texas for CBS 11 since 1996.
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It’s called a blue card survey. But some residents in the Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas believe it could be their ace in the hole and their fight against the proposed development.
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The 2019 tornado left a trail of destruction in North Dallas, including Victor Toledo’s home. He said been able to rebuild along with others in his neighborhood.
But he says one area is still an eyesore.
“It’s become a very desirable neighborhood, other than that one corner, that one corner is still stuck six years ago with the old office buildings,” said Toledo.
That “one corner” he’s referring to is the southwest side of Preston Road in Royal Lane.
It’s where developers want to build an $800 million 19-story resort hotel, apartment building, and mixed-use development.
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There are signs all around Preston Hollow opposing the project.
A recently completed survey of residences within 500 yards of it reveals just how strong the opposition is.
City of Dallas survey:
258 opposed
7 in favor
18 no response
Margaret Chabris hopes the city’s planning and zoning commission, which meets again on Aug. 6, will take the results of the survey seriously.
“It does have an impact because this is what the city wanted to know, and this is the chance that residents and property owners right here can voice their opinion; it should have a considerable impact.”
But some residents, like Toledo, believe the benefits of the development outweigh concerns about traffic and construction.
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“It’ll be great for the neighborhood to have that kind of amenity,” Toledo said. “To have hotel options, new restaurants. Now it’s a vacant old building that wasn’t being used much.”
