NBA: Kyrie Irving makes big shots to lift Mavericks over Timberwolves

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Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) shoots a 3-point basket over Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

DALLAS — Kyrie Irving made the tying and go-ahead 3-pointers, finishing with 35 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 115-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night in the NBA.

Irving shot 14 of 27, including 6 of 8 from the 3-point arc. Luka Doncic added 34 points on 12-of-26 shooting, including 5 of 12 from the 3-point arc.

Irving’s 3 from the top of the arc tied it at 106 with 2:59 remaining. He then stole the ball from Rudy Gobert and made another 3 from the right corner with 2:05 to play.

Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic combined for 69 POINTS to help the Mavs protect homecourt against the Timberwolves!

Irving: 35 PTS, 8 REB, 6 3PM
Doncic: 34 PTS, 8 AST, 5 3PM pic.twitter.com/p9ogQJjCxe

— NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2024

Derrick Jones Jr. sealed the Mavs’ win with a driving dunk with 24 seconds to go.

Anthony Edwards led all scorers with 36 points on 14-of-27 shooting for the Timberwolves. Minnesota had won the first two meetings this season.

It was a clutch finish for the Mavericks (22-15) against the best clutch team statistically in the NBA. Dallas improved to 12-5 in clutch games, third-best in the league. Minnesota is now 11-3 in clutch games, which occur when the scoring margin is within five points with five or fewer minutes remaining.

Minnesota (25-10) is the top team in the Western Conference and has the second-best record in the league behind the Boston Celtics. Dallas entered the game seventh in the West, a half-game behind the New Orleans Pelicans.

Irving hit a 10-footer to give the Mavs a 96-87 lead early in the fourth quarter. But the Wolves’ 19-4 run over the next six minutes gave them a six-point lead with 3:45 remaining. Minnesota scored 11 consecutive points before Dwight Powell converted a three-point play on a layup and free throw with 3 1/2 minutes left to cut the deficit to three.

Irving hit consecutive 3-pointers to give the Mavs a 78-73 lead midway through the third quarter, and the Mavs finished the period on a 19-9 run to take a 91-82 lead behind a scoring surge from Doncic and Irving. The pair combined to score 14 points during the run.

UP NEXT

Timberwolves: Visit Orlando on Tuesday.

Mavericks: Host Memphis on Tuesday.