Dallas Mavericks 108 Minnesota Timberwolves 105

Dallas Mavericks Win Game 1 of Western Conference Finals Over Minnesota Timberwolves

Dallas Mavericks 108, Minnesota Timberwolves 105

Five Takeaways from Minnesota's Strong Finish to Game 4

The Dallas Mavericks took an early lead in the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday night, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 108-105 in Game 1 at Target Center.

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving combined for 63 points for the Mavericks, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards led the way for the Timberwolves with 29 and 27 points, respectively.

The Timberwolves trailed by as many as 12 points in the first quarter, but they battled back to tie the game at 87-87 with just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

However, the Mavericks were able to close out the game with a 9-0 run, capped by a three-pointer from Doncic with just under a minute left.

Here are five takeaways from the Mavericks' 108-105 victory in Game 1:

• Doncic and Irving are a dynamic duo. The two All-Stars combined for 63 points and 18 assists in Game 1, and they were simply too much for the Timberwolves to handle. Doncic, in particular, was unstoppable, scoring 30 points in the second half.
• The Timberwolves need more from their bench. Minnesota's bench was outscored by the Mavericks' bench 33-18 in Game 1, and that was a big factor in the outcome. The Timberwolves need to get more production from their reserves if they want to win this series.
• The Timberwolves need to find a way to stop Doncic. Doncic was the best player on the court in Game 1, and the Timberwolves need to find a way to stop him if they want to win this series. They need to make him work hard for every basket, and they need to keep him from getting to the free throw line.
• The Mavericks need to protect their home court. The Mavericks have a 2-0 lead in the series, and they need to protect their home court in Game 3. If they can win Game 3, they will be in a great position to close out the series in Game 4.
• The Timberwolves need to stay positive. The Timberwolves lost Game 1, but they still have a chance to win this series. They need to stay positive and believe they can win. They need to come out with a strong performance in Game 2 and see if they can tie the series.