Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic took over in the fourth quarter and led the team to a 108-105 win against Minnesota in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals Wednesday night. Doncic scored seven straight points early in the quarter and had 15 of his game-high 33 points inside the final 12 minutes. He also came up big on the defensive end when it mattered the most, finishing with three steals and one block. Unfortunately, Doncic failed in his attempt to become only the third player in NBA history with a four-game postseason triple-double streak. But he still recorded a full line, dishing out eight assists and grabbing six rebounds. With more efficient shooting -- Doncic was only 12-for-26 from the field and 3-for-10 from downtown -- this could have been a monster game for the Mavericks superstar.

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving had one of his best offensive games of the 2024 postseason on Wednesday with a 30-point effort in a 108-105 win over Minnesota. Irving did a great job in getting to the rim early in the game and had 24 points in the first half alone. He couldn't get any threes to drop with three attempts but shot a good 12-for-23 overall from the field and posted five rebounds with four assists and one block. In the previous series against the Thunder, Irving averaged only 15.7 points, so he looked almost like a different player in the Western Conference Finals opener, and his scoring is a major plus for the Mavericks.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels opened Wednesday's Game 1 against Dallas with 4-for-4 three-point shooting and was the team's top scorer in the end in a 108-105 loss with 24 points. The 23-year-old enjoyed his third consecutive 20-point effort with 9-for-15 shooting, hitting six of his nine attempts from behind the arc. McDaniels' night also included four rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Minnesota's young forward has built himself a reputation as a very good defensive player, and he was selected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team at the start of the week. But McDaniels has also been on a roll offensively lately thanks to some very sharp three-point shooting, going 12-for-18 from deep across his last three appearances.

Dallas Mavericks forward/center P.J. Washington recorded 13 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks as the team opened the Western Conference Finals against Minnesota with a 108-105 win on Wednesday. It was a rough shooting night for the 28-year-old, as Washington finished 4-for-10 from the field and 2-for-8 with his three-point attempts, but he made a big shot late in the game to set the Mavericks on their way. Washington's second triple gave Dallas a 104-102 lead with 1:56 remaining in the fourth quarter. Despite the poor shooting, Washington led all Mavericks starters with a plus-12 rating. The former Hornet has looked great in these playoffs, and the Mavericks tend to have a tough time when he's off the court.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards struggled to get points on the board but went close to his first career triple-double in Wednesday's Game 1 loss to the Mavericks. Edwards shot a very good 5-for-12 from downtown, but he finished 6-for-16 overall from the field and managed only 19 points. However, he led his team with 11 rebounds and eight assists, adding a pair of steals to his stat line. Edwards has had a huge postseason campaign, but after playing 44 minutes in Game 7 against Denver on Sunday, he logged 41 minutes on Wednesday and looked gassed in the closing stages. The games are coming thick and fast, with Game 2 of the series scheduled for Friday, and the Timberwolves will be in big trouble if Edwards can't get his energy levels back.