The Dallas Mavericks have the look of an NBA Finals contender after they overcame an 18-point deficit to steal Game 2 on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Dallas was thoroughly outplayed in the first half as Minnesota looked to avenge their Game 1 loss, but the former dug in deep to erase the latter’s lead and set up another dramatic finish.
There was zero doubt that the ball was going to Luka Doncic on the Mavericks’ final possession and he got the matchup he wanted when he drew Rudy Gobert on a switch.
Gobert had no chance guarding Doncic above the key and the Dallas superstar drained what ended up being the game-winning 3-pointer.
Aside from Doncic’s late-game heroics, rookie center Dereck Lively also deserves credit for playing well on both ends of the floor.
Lively drew high praise from analysts like Kendrick Perkins, who couldn’t help but heap praise on the rookie via his personal Twitter account.
“Gotta show love to the Rookie Dereck Lively who’s been out playing both KAT and Gobert on both ends of the floor. The Mavs have done a great job of developing him and getting ready for these moments. It’s safe to say that they have CULTURE. Carry on…,” Perkins tweeted.
Gotta show love to the Rookie Dereck Lively who’s been out playing both KAT and Gobert on both ends of the floor. The Mavs have done a great job of developing him and getting ready for these moments. It’s safe to say that they have CULTURE. Carry on…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) May 25, 2024
Lively, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, has been a godsend for Dallas as he plays more like a veteran than a rookie.
A legitimate lob threat and rim protector, Lively’s made several impact plays this series and should be in line for more work if he continues to play this well in high-leverage moments.
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