Luka Doncic & Kyrie Irving Combine For 66 Points & Steal Game 1 From Timberwolves

The Mavericks showed up to Target Center in Minnesota and stole home-court advantage with a 108-105 win on Wednesday to open the Western Conference finals.

Kyrie Irving started the game out hot in the first half, and Luka Doncic brought the Mavs home, scoring 15 in the 4th quarter. The game saw 14 lead changes: Dončić scored 33 points, and Kyrie Irving added 30, leading the Mavericks.

Dončić shot 12-of-25 from the field, contributing eight assists, six rebounds, and three steals. Irving went 12-of-23, also adding four assists.

"I just said to myself, 'We got to win this game. I gotta be way better,'" Doncic said. "Because three quarters, I didn't play good. So I just came into the fourth, got to my spots and lead the team to win."

"We know he's one of the best scorers of all time, really," Irving said of Doncic. "That means he's proven it, and when he's going out there and not necessarily playing well offensively in the first half, I know in the second half he's going to be aggressive. I think we've been able to figure out that one-two punch of just playing the point guard role and playing that main scorer's role and just not lacking in other areas in the basketball game."

Anthony Edwards, who looked tired in the 4th quarter, scored 19 points on 6-of-16 shooting and delivered 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Jaden McDaniels had his third straight 20-plus-point game, leading the Wolves with 24 points.

"I've been here before, so a little bit more poise on my end," Irving said, referring to his experience of advancing past the conference finals three times. "Just being able to start to confidence and that aggression."

Irving acknowledged he was eager to get off to a good start after seeing Edwards' Post-Game TNT interview when Edwards declared he would get the assignment of guarding Irving.

"He said it right then and there, and I think the whole world was looking like, 'OK, better know what you're talking about,'" Irving said. "And I respect that. That no-fear mentality that he has is why I love him as a competitor and why I love him as a person. But when we're on that court, I know he's going to give his all and I'm going to give him my all."

Game 2 is Friday night in Minnesota.

THE UNDERRATED OPINION
The Timberwolves struggled at times on the defense side of the court. The shift in offensive styles from the Nuggets to the Mavs seemed to cause the Wolves' defense issues, as they could not prevent Doncic from running the Mavs' offense. Ultimately, the Wolves never really seemed to figure out how to slow down the Mavericks', which also took advantage of numerous textbook fastbreak opportunities in the second half.

Game 2 will be pivotal for both teams, as I'm sure both teams will make significant adjustments.