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.”

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.

“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.”

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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3rd Quarter Report

Only one more quarter stands between the Timberwolves and the victory they were favored to collect coming into this evening. They have jumped out to a 83-82 lead against the Mavericks. This match is far closer than the pair’s previous matchup, which was decided by 34 points.

If the Timberwolves keep playing like this, they’ll bump their record up to 5-3 in no time. On the other hand, the Mavericks will have to make due with a 4-3 record unless they turn things around (and fast).

Who’s Playing

Dallas Mavericks @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Regular Season Records: Dallas 50-32, Minnesota 56-26

Current Series Standings: Minnesota 0, Dallas 0

How To Watch

What to Know

On Wednesday, the Minnesota Timberwolves will fight it out against the Dallas Mavericks in a Western Conference playoff contest at 8:30 p.m. ET at Target Center. Coming in fresh off a victory as the underdog, the Timberwolves will stroll into this one as the favorite.

The Timberwolves are headed into this one after the oddsmakers set last week’s over/under low at 201, but even that wound up being too high. They walked away with a 98-90 win over the Nuggets on Sunday. The victory was all the more spectacular given Minnesota was down by 20 with 10:50 left in the third quarter.

The Timberwolves can attribute much of their success to Jaden McDaniels, who scored 23 points along with six rebounds and two steals, and Karl-Anthony Towns, who dropped a double-double on 23 points and 12 rebounds. Less helpful for the Timberwolves was Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s abysmal 0-5 three-point shooting.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks earned some postseason bragging rights after a successful outing on Saturday. They skirted by the Thunder 117-116 thanks to a clutch free throw from PJ Washington with 2 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The win was all the more spectacular given Dallas was down by 17 with 8:57 left in the third quarter.

Luka Doncic continued his habit of posting crazy stat lines, shooting 4-for-6 from deep and dropping a triple-double on 29 points, ten rebounds, and ten assists. He has been hot recently, having posted ten or more rebounds the last five times he’s played.

The Timberwolves and the Mavericks will be playing the first game of their best-of-seven series on Wednesday. Come back here to find out who’s still in it and who will have to wait until next year.

Odds

Minnesota is a 4.5-point favorite against Dallas, according to the latest NBA odds.

The oddsmakers had a good feel for the line for this one, as the game opened with the Timberwolves as a 3.5-point favorite.

The oddsmakers are predicting a defensive showdown and set the over/under low at 208 points.

See NBA picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine’s advanced computer model. Get picks now.

Series History

Minnesota has won 6 out of their last 10 games against Dallas.

• Jan 31, 2024 – Minnesota 121 vs. Dallas 87
• Jan 07, 2024 – Dallas 115 vs. Minnesota 108
• Dec 28, 2023 – Minnesota 118 vs. Dallas 110
• Dec 14, 2023 – Minnesota 119 vs. Dallas 101
• Feb 13, 2023 – Minnesota 124 vs. Dallas 121
• Dec 21, 2022 – Dallas 104 vs. Minnesota 99
• Dec 19, 2022 – Minnesota 116 vs. Dallas 106
• Mar 25, 2022 – Minnesota 116 vs. Dallas 95
• Mar 21, 2022 – Dallas 110 vs. Minnesota 108
• Dec 21, 2021 – Dallas 114 vs. Minnesota 102

In recent discussions about the NFL schedule, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has expressed his support for an eventual move to an 18-game regular season, according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post.

While the league currently operates with a 17-game schedule, Jones believes replacing a preseason game with an additional regular-season contest would be a positive change.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has also commented on the topic, acknowledging that an 18-game season is not currently on the table but emphasizing its consideration in a “long-range context.”

The current collective bargaining agreement runs through the 2030 season, leaving room for potential adjustments.

For years, the league maintained a 16-game regular season. In 2021, the schedule expanded to 17 games, and now the possibility of reaching 18 games is gaining traction.

Players’ opinions vary from person to person, and questions about a second bye week have arisen. If the league decides to move to an 18-game season, it will be interesting to see how players adapt to the new format.

As discussions continue, the NFLPA’s stance will be crucial during future CBA negotiations. While the league aims for progress, finding the right balance between player safety, the league’s revenue, and fan engagement will remain a priority.

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