Magic Johnson clapped back at Anthony Edwards in the best way after the Timberwolves star took a dig at NBA players from the 1980s and 90s.
Edwards told the Wall Street Journal in a recent interview that he wasn’t too impressed with players from those eras of the game.
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Well, Johnson was told about the comment by Stephen A. Smith while appearing at the Yaamava Resort & Casino with the ESPN personality, as the New York Post reports.
That’s when Johnson fired back at Edwards.
“I never respond to a guy who’s never won a championship,” Johnson told Smith and the audience, which drew laughter from the crowd.
Magic didn’t hold back in his assessment of Anthony Edwards. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP)Source: AFPEdwards (right) won an Olympic gold medal in Paris alongside Steph Curry and Team USA. (Photo by Damien MEYER / AFP)Source: AFP
“There’s not really anything to say. He didn’t win a college championship, I don’t know if he even won a high school championship.”
Johnson is certainly an authority in the game, having won five NBA titles with the Lakers.
And Edwards’ comments were enough to annoy some people in the basketball world, which seemingly included Johnson.
Edwards had told the WSJ that outside of Michael Jordan, no one in that era had much skill.
“I didn’t watch it back in the day so I can’t speak on it,” he said.
Magic is one of the greatest players of all-time. Photo: ALLSPORT USASource: Getty ImagesEdwards and the Timberwolves reached the Western Conference Finals last season. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“They say it was tougher back then than it is now, but I don’t think anybody had skill back then.
“(Michael Jordan) was the only one that really had skill, you know what I mean?
“So that’s why when they saw Kobe (Bryant), they were like ‘oh, my God’. But now everybody has skill.”
Edwards is coming off a season in which he averaged a career-high 25.9 points per game and helped the Timberwolves reach the Western Conference Finals.
However, the Timberwolves star is still in search of his first NBA title.
Edwards was part of the United States team that won gold at this month’s Paris Olympic Games.
This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission
You suspect the likes of LeBron James and Steph Curry were hoping this chapter in USA men’s basketball history would be remembered in the same vein as the 1992 Dream Team, but the truth is it’s been a largely uneventful run for the Americans in Paris.
They’re not going to change the game on a global scale like Michael Jordan and Co did in Barcelona, or be cherished like Kobe and the Redeem Teamers were for returning their country to the top of the basketball world in Beijing.
The Americans will (probably) win gold and (probably) win it comfortably this weekend, but they’ll join the likes of the 2000 and 2016 teams in getting the job done with a minimum of fuss.
The only semi-interesting storylines to this point have been the minor controversy over Jayson Tatum getting a DNP early in the group stage and Joel Embiid getting booed relentlessly by French crowds upset he’s not playing for them.
Which, if you know basketball fans, leads to the inevitable habit of crystal ball-gazing. Specifically, about potential NBA trades.
It doesn’t happen every four years but there’s a couple of very famous examples of superstar players joining forces after forging bonds on an Olympic trip.
LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh changed the league by uniting in Miami after winning gold together in 2008.
Redeem Teamers LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan did the same in Brooklyn after living on a yacht together in Rio, albeit with contrasting results.
So hoops fans are looking for any slight indication a player from their favourite team is becoming particularly chummy with one of his US teammates.
James and Curry were in focus when the Americans first assembled.
NBA Finals rivals for four straight years from 2015-18 – a period where there were moments you felt the King really didn’t like the three-point wizard from Golden State – James and Curry have become great buds in recent years.
They spoke often about their excitement at playing together and recent comments by Curry — where he said he wants to be a Warrior for life but “things change quickly” in the NBA — gave some life to the idea of him joining forces with the Lakers veteran.
Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan forged bonds in Rio in 2016. Picture: GettySource: Getty Images
But James and Curry probably make too much money to fit on the same team at this point of their careers.
Outside of those two, Durant and Devin Booker’s situation in Phoenix is far from settled given what their owner is forking out for a team that has so far fallen short. Embiid is another who often hears speculation about his future in Philadelphia.
But the name on the lips of the most NBA fan bases is Anthony Edwards. The breakout star of this year’s NBA playoffs does not exactly play in the most appealing of destinations with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
If you gave every team the ability to sign one young American talent they’d almost all pick the recently turned 23-year-old shooting guard.
Which brings us to this photo.
Anthony Edwards and Bam Adebayo share a laugh together. (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Edwards is a jokester who can make anyone laugh but the chemistry he appears to share with Miami Heat big man Adebayo has the rumour mill running.
To make matters worse for Wolves fans, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is in Paris too serving as an assistant coach under Steve Kerr.
“Anthony Edwards really loves Bam Adebayo and Erik Spoelstra. He loved his experience with them,” NBA media personality Bill Simmons said on a recent podcast.
“Don’t be surprised … story drop,” Simmons added. “Am I dropping it now?”
Both Adebayo and Spoelstra have spoken glowingly about the man leading this USA team in scoring.
“He’s authentically himself,” Adebayo said to The Star Tribune. “He’s not going to change.
“He’s going to be the same person every day, on the court, off the court.
“You see on TV, when some of y’all make these moments go viral. It’s really like, ‘This is just you’. This is one of the things I love about Ant. He’s himself. He’s not going to change.
“He’s one of those guys where he can say something wild, as we heard, but it’s him being himself.”
Anthony Edwards pats Bam Adebayo on the back. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“He wants to win, wants to be a part of winning,” Spoelstra added. “He’s dedicated to the process of it and he’s going to be him, and his personality.
“He’s not going to change just because he’s on a team of this caliber. I think that’s the beauty of his personality.”
Many are rightly pointing out Edwards recently signed a five-year contract extension tying him to the Wolves until 2028.
But a move doesn’t have to happen immediately. Paris might just be planting seeds that blossom down the road.
And it’s not unheard of for NBA players to push their way out of situations early. So remember this photo.
The Boomers have given Team USA a big scare, rallying back from a 24-point third-quarter deficit to go down 98-92 in the early hours of Tuesday morning (AEST) in Abu Dhabi.
Australia was behind 65-41 early in the third and even trailed by as many as 18 points in the fourth but refused to go away, fighting until the very end.
Josh Giddey was a standout with 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and as the game went on he developed a strong connection with Boomers big man Jock Landale, who was arguably Australia’s best with 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Will Magnay, meanwhile, appears to have the jump for the back-up big man role after a strong showing while both established and emerging Boomers shone as Dyson Daniels and Matthew Dellavedova impressed.
Josh Giddey caught fire in the second quarter and didn’t look back. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Source: AFP
Australia started the game with Giddey and Patty Mills sharing the backcourt, with Daniels, Nick Kay and Landale rounding out the line-up.
Meanwhile, Team USA, who was without Kevin Durant (calf), started Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James and Joel Embiid.
Landale set the tone for what was a busy opening from the Boomers big man as he hustled on the boards for the first bucket of the game before James drained an open look from deep.
Landale though responded with a 3-pointer of his own as both teams found plenty of success from downtown early, with Edwards hitting his first three attempts of the game while Daniels even confidently sunk a triple.
Australia was well and truly keeping in touch with Team USA at that point, trailing 14-13 as Brian Goorjian made his first changes of the game, bringing in Josh Green, Dante Exum and Magnay for Daniels, Mills and Landale.
It was a well-deserved breather for Landale, who had seven points and four boards at that point, while it was notable that Magnay was the first big to come off the bench ahead of Duop Reath, with the JackJumper impressing in his minutes.
Meanwhile, Edwards continued to be lightning in a bottle for Team USA as he crossed over Magnay and then splashed the stepback 3-pointer.
That brought up 11 early points for Edwards and had Team USA ahead 19-13 as Goorjian called a timeout.
Team USA got a scare. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Source: AFP
The Boomers responded with a 6-0 run to tie up the game as Exum fed Magnay in the paint for back-to-back buckets before Giddey drove towards the rim to score on Anthony Davis for his first field goal.
It didn’t take long for Team USA to re-establish its lead, kicking back out to 32-21 by the end of the first quarter as Australia’s offence struggled to get anything going late after going scoreless on six of its last seven possessions.
A lot of that came back to dealing with the combination of Bam Adebayo and Davis, who were menaces on the defensive end.
Jack McVeigh saw his first minutes early in the second quarter as Daniels produced a great backdoor cut for the finish to score Australia’s opening bucket of the quarter.
If there was one highlight to come out of the quarter, it was the way Giddey was aggressively driving towards the rim and finding plenty of success, scoring on back-to-back possessions while also crashing the glass on the defensive end.
As much as Giddey is obviously a gifted passer, the 21-year-old’s driving ability is also one of his biggest strengths as the 6-foot-8 point guard developed an effective two-man game with Landale.
Will Magnay was solid. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Source: AFP
Elsewhere, while McVeigh wasn’t the same outside shooting threat as he was in the warm-up games against China, he found other ways to get involved as he cut to the paint to cap off what was a 7-0 run for Australia.
Team USA still was up 39-30 at that point and quickly added to that buffer with a Steph Curry 3-pointer, going on to take a 53-37 lead into halftime.
Those early 3-pointers for Landale and Daniels were Australia’s only successful attempts of the half, with the Boomers otherwise going 2-for-11 while Team USA made eight of 19 shots from deep.
Australia did have the clear advantage in the paint (28-10) but had only nine bench points compared to 20 for Team USA, which is to be expected given the star-studded depth Steve Kerr has to work with.
Goorjian opened the third quarter by going back to the line-up that started the game as Daniels continued to be a shining light.
First, Giddey found a cutting Daniels for the first bucket of the period before the Atlanta Hawks guard came up with a steal on Davis to dunk it home on the other end.
Mills scored his first bucket of the game a few minutes into the quarter before fellow Boomers veteran Joe Ingles entered the action for the first time in a line-up that included Landale, Exum and Green.
Still, at that point Team USA still didn’t look threatened and led 67-45 before Australia went on a 10-0 run to wrestle back some momentum, with Magnay and Exum heavily involved.
Dyson Daniels made an impact on both ends. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Source: AFP
A sloppy USA team made back-to-back turnovers which the Boomers turned into quick points as Exum first found Magnay in the paint with a pass before the big man dunked home an Exum miss soon after.
Magnay then outhustled Curry for a loose ball to score his third-straight bucket and cap off the run.
Australia was able to close the gap to 76-61 entering the final quarter and then got within 11 points of Team USA as Giddey scored six quick points, again relentlessly driving to the rim.
“If there are Chicago Bulls fans watching this game, they’ve got to be excited about Josh Giddey,” play-by-play commentator Jason Benetti said.
“He has been willing to put his body into Team USA all day.”
Dellavedova also saw his first minutes of the game in the opening stages of the fourth and operated as the primary ballhandler with Giddey off the court, making an immediate impact as he found Mills for a 3-pointer before forcing a steal that turned into a Daniels bucket.
Suddenly, the Boomers were in business with Team USA only leading 86-80 after missing its last seven shots, but a Tyrese Haliburton 3-pointer helped re-establish their cushion.
Australia then turned it over on the next possession after committing a shot clock violation before Haliburton knocked down another triple to put Team USA ahead 92-80 with just over two minutes left.
It looked like it was essentially game over at that point, although there were still a few final highlights — and reminders of what is to come — as Giddey first found Landale with a precision pass and then with a pinpoint inbounds pass.
Speaking of which, here are some quick hitters on what we learned from the loss to Team USA.
SOME QUICK TAKEAWAYS…
GIDDEY-LANDALE COMBINATION FIRES
The 3-point shots weren’t falling on Tuesday but if there was one consistent source of offence for the Boomers it was through the Giddey-Landale pick-and-roll.
Landale was the early standout and while Giddey only really started to heat up in the second quarter, it was noticeable when he did.
Simply, he looked more confident driving towards the rim instead of always looking for the pass first, although when it presented itself — especially in the form of Landale — Giddey found him.
Otherwise, Giddey was also looking comfortable looking for the finish himself and while it didn’t always come off it was good to see the 21-year-old leaning into that part of his game.
Landale’s absence was felt at last year’s World Cup but with the Boomers big man healthy and Giddey firing in his Olympic debut, Australia looks to have found a key part of its offensive identity.
PATTY MILLS DOES NOT
Obviously Australia’s poor 3-point shooting is not down to Mills alone but if the veteran guard is to have a significant role in Paris, he desperately needs to find his shot.
Mills made one 3-pointer late in the piece on Tuesday but otherwise struggled, going 1-for-5 from deep and 2-for-8 from the field to finish with five points and just as many turnovers.
What makes Mills’ performance particularly concerning though is the fact it isn’t a one-off. He wasn’t able to get into any sort of rhythm in the warm-up games against China too.
If the shots aren’t falling for Mills, it is hard to see him playing a significant role in Paris and instead it may end up making more sense for him to get limited minutes off the bench.
DYSON’S DEFENCE IMPRESSES
The young Atlanta Hawks guard was one of the bigger surprises to come out of Tuesday’s game.
We all know Daniels has the tools on defence to make an impact but he was also getting involved on the other end of the floor, making an early 3-pointer and cutting to the basket to finish the game with 14 points.
Now, Daniels’ ability to get stops (three steals) and spark transition buckets could once again pose the question as to why Matisse Thybulle was left out given he has similar strengths that would have been valuable to the Boomers in their Paris campaign.
But regardless, it was promising to see a more confident and composed Daniels impress in his first significant minutes under Goorjian, who was reluctant to play him at last year’s World Cup.
MAGNAY THE BACK-UP BIG?
That is what it looks like if you consider the fact it was Magnay and not Reath who replaced Landale when the Boomers’ starting big man got his first rest.
Now, that would not have been set in stone had Magnay not put in the performance he did, scoring eight points to go with three rebounds, two steals and a block.
That was just in 11 minutes too. The hustle and willingness to fight for every possession and take it to a physical USA team packing plenty of size was noticeable.
WHAT ROLE WILL INGLES AND DELLY HAVE?
For Ingles, it looks like Goorjian is definitely not compelled to guarantee the Boomers veteran much playing time unless the 36-year-old is absolutely needed, giving him just three minutes on Tuesday.
Dellavedova only saw four minutes but he made the most of his short stint in the fourth quarter, running the team with Giddey on the bench and adding a much-needed spark on both ends of the floor.
The NBA offseason is in full swing now and there have been a number of Australians in the headlines, with Josh Giddey traded to Chicago early in the piece while Josh Green was the latest countryman to land on a new team.
With all of that in mind, foxsports.com.au has you covered with all the latest news on every Australian in the NBA and what is in store for those who will be wearing new colours.
JOSH GIDDEY (Chicago Bulls)
Starting with the biggest name of the lot because for the last three years, Giddey had been one of the faces of the Oklahoma City rebuild.
But, as has been well-established by this point, he was forced into a role that didn’t play into his strengths as the talented Thunder roster rose to new heights in the 2023-24 season.
That is all old news though. So, what is new for Giddey in Chicago?
Well, for starters he won’t be coming off the bench given what the 21-year-old said at his introductory press conference for the Bulls.
Giddey opens up on trade to Bulls | 01:12
“I just said to him at this point in my career, I’m 21 years old, it wasn’t something that I was overly eager to do,” Giddey said of his chat with Thunder GM Sam Presti.
You would suspect Giddey wouldn’t be eager to do that at the Bulls either, especially when you consider he would have been a lot closer to contending for a title at Oklahoma City.
At this stage it looks like Giddey will be starting in the backcourt alongside Coby White, who is a nice fit alongside the Australian after shooting 38 per cent from deep on seven attempts per game last season.
Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago’s young guard who emerged down the stretch, looks more likely to settle into a bench rotation role.
Elsewhere, DeMar DeRozan’s departure for Sacramento will only further open up more opportunities for this to be Giddey’s team.
That is true to a degree, of course, given the Bulls won’t want to just give Giddey the keys entirely considering how much White showed in a prominent role last season.
But it will still be a much better set-up for Giddey in terms of getting his hands on the ball more while the Bulls won’t be expected to compete for a playoff berth either, meaning there should be less pressure and hence more chances for Giddey to make — and learn from — mistakes.
Gaze: Bulls a ‘better fit’ for Giddey | 00:59
“It was going to be hard to tap into my full potential, in my opinion, on a team like [Oklahoma City] with so many talented guys who needed the ball in their hands, who were great with the ball in their hands,” Giddey said.
“A change of scenery was going to maybe unlock more of that for me. Being able to make the game easy for everybody, being able to get guys involved, distribute the ball and get other players confident around me is the thing I pride myself on doing.
“And it’s hard to do that in a role when the ball isn’t in your hands a lot. … That’s probably the big thing coming in here. I want to be the pass-first point guard I am.”
Bulls fans will get a look at the pass-first point guard in Giddey at this year’s Olympics after the 21-year-old thrived in a similar role at the FIBA World Cup.
The big question for the Bulls as a whole is what happens with Zach LaVine, who is due to make $43 million next season, $46 million in 2025-26 and has a $49 million player option for 2026-27.
At this stage, the Bulls are still looking to offload him but may find it hard to get the kind of return they are after given LaVine’s contract and the fact they have so little leverage in negotiations.
JOSH GREEN (Charlotte Hornets)
As will be consistent with all the younger Australian players moved this offseason, this trade takes Green further away from competing for a title but will ultimately help his development.
At Dallas, Green was restricted to a rotation role where he was more of a 3-and-D guy than anything else, complementing Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
There were times that Green excelled in that role, most notably in Game 5 of the NBA Finals when he made four 3-pointers on his way to 14 points off the bench in a loss to the Celtics.
But for the most part Green’s form would fluctuate depending on how he was shooting the ball.
Josh Green was traded to Charlotte. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
What didn’t falter though was the energy and hustle Green offered on both ends of the floor and he will be an important player in setting the tone and culture for a Charlotte team that is still in the early stages of forming its own identity.
Green has an opportunity to start at the two for the Hornets but either way he will see more minutes than he did at the Mavericks and have more freedom, like Giddey, to make mistakes and learn from them.
At Dallas, if Green made too many missteps he risked having his minutes squeezed in the rotation for a team that has title aspirations.
It is easy to forget Green is still only 23 years old and he has previously shown his potential when operating as the primary ballhandler in games without Doncic or Irving.
He may not have as many wins on the board in Charlotte but don’t be surprised if Green emerges as a breakout player of sorts with the added responsibility.
DYSON DANIELS (Atlanta Hawks)
Likewise, Daniels is another player who will benefit from getting a fresh start in the upcoming season.
New Orleans traded Daniels as part of a move that saw the Pelicans land Dejounte Murray and it is expected to be just the start of more major changes at Atlanta, who may be heading towards a rebuild of sorts.
With that in mind, Daniels also has a legitimate chance to see playing time — at least more than he was getting at New Orleans, another Western Conference contender on the rise.
In fact, there is every chance he could share the backcourt with Trae Young, should he stay at the Hawks, given the Australian’s elite defence would be the perfect match alongside him.
Dyson Daniels will have more opportunities with the Hawks. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Daniels’ point of attack defence in particular will keep him on the court, while any growth on the offensive side of the ball will determine just how high his ceiling is.
The young guard out of Bendigo looked hesitant and lacked confidence at times when playing for the Pelicans, whether it was with his shot or driving to the rim.
If Daniels can overcome that mental battle and develop his perimeter shooting, he could end up being a key piece of Atlanta’s future but at least his defence gives him a solid floor and an asset the Hawks desperately need right now as constructed.
JOE INGLES (Minnesota Timberwolves)
It wasn’t supposed to be like this for Ingles, who told reporters after Australia’s second warm-up game against China that he hoped he would be a one-team player in his NBA career.
“The crazy thing is I only wanted to play for one. I really just wanted to play for one,” Ingles said, per ESPN.
Instead Ingles played eight seasons at Utah until he tore his ACL and was traded to Portland, where he remained sidelined by injury and didn’t see a single minute on the court before becoming a free agent.
The veteran wing then secured a one-year contract with the Bucks, only to then agree to another short-term deal with the Magic the following season and now Minnesota is the next stop for the Boomers legend.
Although Ingles revealed he could have easily already been on the Timberwolves this time last year.
“They actually tried to get me last year as well,” Ingles said.
Ingles landed at Orlando instead, where he was the oldest player in a young roster that exceeded expectations and will likely continue to rise up the Eastern Conference standings.
Ingles signs one-year deal with Wolves | 00:39
But unlike Giddey, Green and Daniels, Ingles is heading to a team that is a genuine title contender next year.
The Timberwolves knocked off defending champions Denver in this past season’s playoffs before going down to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference semi-finals.
In Minnesota, Ingles will reunite with former Jazz teammates Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert.
He will also team up with one of the league’s most rapidly ascending superstars — and best trash talkers — in Anthony Edwards.
“He’s good,” Ingles said of Edwards’ trash talk.
“I’ll save it for someone else. (But) it’s exciting. It’s obviously a really good team. Western Conference finals this year. Just going in there fully understanding the role they have for me. Trying to help Rudy, trying to help Ant, trying to help all these guys get better and hopefully go further.”
Ingles described it as a “basketball opportunity that was too good to give up”.
Realistically, the 36-year-old will slot into a similar bench role to Kyle Anderson, who signed a three-year contract with Golden State.
He can still shoot the ball and is a valuable veteran locker room presence while his familiarity with Conley and Gobert is obviously also a plus.
JOHNNY FURPHY (Indiana Pacers)
From an Australian veteran to the country’s newest NBA export.
Furphy was projected as a mid-to-late first round pick but was instead made to wait until the early stages of the second round for his name to be called.
The Indiana Pacers traded up to land the Victorian, who Pacers coach Rick Carlisle told ‘The Wake Up Call’ on 107.5 The Fan was actually the 14th-ranked prospect on their big board.
“He is a guy that our scouts had as the No. 14 player in the entire draft, and we got him at 35, so we feel pretty fortunate there,” Carlisle said.
At19 years old, Furphy offers plenty of upside with his combination of shooting, athleticism and length at 6-foot-9.
Johnny Furphy during his time at the Kansas Jayhawks. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
But Furphy is very much a developmental player who still needs to add plenty of weight to his frame to be able to handle the physicality of the NBA.
That is something both Furphy and Chad Buchanan are aware of though, with the Indiana general manager telling reporters the team believes the former Kansas wing has “a lot of room to grow”.
“Both his body physically and his game,” Buchanan said.
“He’s obviously very young in age, but we liked a lot of things about him that felt like aligned with who we are as an organisation and how we play.”
Specifically, Indiana likes to push the pace and that is a stylistic fit for Furphy, who had highlight finishes in transition during his time at Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence.
The way Furphy moves, or more accurately, glides down the court also makes him an ideal piece for the high-tempo offence Indiana runs.
“I think the Pacers run a super exciting play style. Their team dynamic is something I can envision myself fitting in really well,” Furphy said in his introductory press conference.
“Just how fast they play. How different players impact the game. I can kind of envision myself doing that.”
Pacers nab exciting Aussie with pick 35 | 01:48
Furphy, who said slipping out of the first round of the draft is “definitely a motivation” for him moving forward, will likely struggle to find playing time early in his Pacers career and Buchanan hinted at as much.
“The reality is our roster is in a situation where it’s going to be tough for a young guy to come in and play,” the Pacers GM said.
“We have a lot of good young players already on the roster. We have a lot of established roles already. We feel like we’re willing to be a little bit more patient with a young player like Johnny.”
But that is honestly for the best since Furphy was viewed as more of a high-upside project player heading into the draft, so the Pacers are taking the right approach with him.
One of the key focuses for Furphy will be developing his game off the ball as it is his best chance of seeing playing time on an Indiana team that is not short of playmaking options.
“That’s something I’ve had to do my whole life,” Furphy said.
“Playing with a lot of different teams, learning how to play without the ball in my hands. That’s something I feel like I do really well.
“Being able to impact the game without the ball. Playing in transition, rebounding, cutting. That’s something I can see myself doing.”
BEN SIMMONS (Brooklyn Nets)
It all comes down to this for Simmons. A contract year and potentially the season that will decide if he still has a career in the NBA.
After multiple injury setbacks and false starts, could this finally be the season when Simmons puts it all together and shows glimpses of the talent that made him a three-time All-Star?
If it is another disappointing season for Simmons, the Nets will likely just count down the days until his $40.3 million contract expires because it is hard to see any team being incentivised enough to take on his salary without a sudden turnaround in form.
Of course, on the flip side, the best case scenario for the Nets is that Simmons does start to show signs of improvement — or at least enough to increase his trade value.
Ben Simmons is on an expiring contract. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
The worst case scenario is that Simmons is playing poorly, stays on the roster and walks in free agency next summer.
But at least they’d be rid of his salary at that point as the Nets play towards the future.
If anything, trading Mikal Bridges should theoretically give Brooklyn the chance to feature Simmons more in the offence, if that is still a feasible plan at this stage of his career.
Should Simmons return to health and remind everyone of his potential when running the offence, maybe a team could come to the negotiating table?
PATTY MILLS (Miami Heat)
Mills is a free agent and while he would obviously welcome the chance to return to Miami, the ball is in the Heat’s court.
Although the fact Milwaukee added Delon Wright in free agency would only increase the veteran guard’s chances of scoring another contract.
If Mills is offered the chance to re-sign with Miami it would be on a one-year, veteran-minimum deal where he would be a depth piece more than anything.
DANTE EXUM (Dallas Mavericks)
With Green out of the picture, it leaves Exum with even more responsibility should Doncic or Irving go down injured as the team’s next best option at point guard.
Otherwise, Exum will remain locked into a key rotation role for the Mavericks given his energy on both ends along with his playmaking and distributing chops.
Outside of Exum, 22-year-old guard Jaden Hardy also stands to benefit from Green’s move while the Mavericks also traded for Quentin Grimes, who will help fill the void left by the Sydney native.
JOCK LANDALE (Houston Rockets)
It looks at this stage like Landale’s $8 million salary with the Rockets for next season has been fully guaranteed, although it is hard to see the Australian having a prominent role given he is now behind Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams.
Regardless, Landale’s salary could be used in a future trade alongside Houston’s growing draft capital should the Rockets decide to make a big, all-in move.
For now, Landale will be a frontcourt depth piece and may see some minutes in the rotation after proving himself down the stretch for Houston as he finished the season strong.
Landale averaged 8.8 points and 4.1 rebounds in his final two months for the Rockets after an injury to Sengun saw him take on greater responsibility in the Houston frontcourt.
MATISSE THYBULLE and DUOP REATH (Portland Trail Blazers)
Not much is expected to change for Thybulle and Reath, who will likely both settle into rotation roles off the bench for a Trail Blazers team that is still in the early stages of a rebuild.
The only real notable addition Portland made this offseason via free agency or trade was Deni Avdija while Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons are staying put for the time being despite speculation they could be on the move.
Elsewhere, the Trail Blazers added Donovan Clingan in the draft, which specifically will make it harder for Reath to see significant minutes in a crowded big man rotation which includes Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III.
JAYLIN GALLOWAY (Milwaukee Bucks)
Galloway is currently signed on a two-way contract for next season and will feature for Milwaukee’s G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd.
In the meantime, Galloway will be in action for the Bucks at the NBA Summer League again, where he will play alongside NBL Next Star AJ Johnson, who Milwaukee drafted in the first round this year.
AUSTRALIANS AT THE NBA SUMMER LEAGUE
The NBA’s Summer League is also already underway as rookies, second-year players and some NBL-rostered Australian talent will be looking to make an impression.
Melbourne United’s Jack White impressed enough at the Summer League back in 2022 to earn a contract with the eventual NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets.
Here are a few names to look out for at this year’s edition:
A photo of the 12-man squad was shared to social media and it’s an image that should leave every other nation shaking in their Nikes.
With an outrageous talent pool to pick from, Team USA will head into the 2024 Olympics with a team that has achieved everything on offer in the NBA.
Led by LeBron James, the squad features a group that have a combined 8 MVP trophies, 2 Defensive Player of the Year awards, 84 All Star appearances and 15 NBA titles.
The 12-man roster consists of James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, Kawhi Leonard, Bam Adebayo, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Devin Booker and Jrue Holiday.
The group are set to cash in for the 2024/25 season with their combined contracts coming in at an outrageous $809 million (AUD).
To put the staggering wealth into context, the entire Australian Boomers squad will earn around $81 million.
Curry single-handedly will earn more next season with a whopping $82.4m contract for the Golden State Warriors.
Team USA are going to torch the OlympicsSource: SuppliedTeam USA in a practice session. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Team USA are chasing a fifth straight Olympic gold medal, in a run of dominance that has seen them win seven out of the past eight Olympics.
They will line up in Group C at the Olympics where they’ll go up against Puerto Rico, South Sudan and Serbia.
Group B consists of Brazil, France, Germany and Japan while Group A has Australia, Canada, Greece and Spain.
Here, foxsports.com.au looks at some of the key talking points to come out of the opening round, including a few steals and where Furphy could land on day two.
WHAT HAPPENED TO AUSSIE JOHNNY FURPHY… AND WHAT COMES NEXT?
It is always the case that some projected first-round picks end up missing out on selection and Furphy was one of the unlucky few, with the Victorian instead expected to have his name called early in the second round.
In terms of looking at why Furphy may have fallen, it was always going to be tricky to project where this year’s first-round prospects would be taken given the varying opinions on them.
Furphy was routinely mocked to Orlando at 18th overall, although the Magic’s eventual pick — Colorado wing Tristan da Silva — made plenty of sense for a number of reasons.
Firstly, while Orlando still has a young core, this is a team that is already competitive in the Eastern Conference and a late bloomer like da Silva is more likely to produce right away.
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Johnny Furphy will have to wait a little bit longer. Chris Gardner/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
Then of course there is the fact the Magic clearly value big wings with a well-rounded skillset and da Silva fits that bill, while it of course is also handy he shot 40 per cent from deep in his last year with Colorado.
From that point there were a few other teams that made sense for Furphy, although there were also a bunch of contenders drafting later in the first round and given the Australian is still an incredibly raw player he may have just not been the right fit at this stage of his career.
The good news for Furphy is he should not have to wait long to have his name called.
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie said on his ‘Game Theory Podcast’ that he is going to mock Furphy to the Toronto Raptors with the first pick of the second round and if he doesn’t go then, the Utah Jazz at 32nd overall also make plenty of sense.
ESPN.com’s latest mock draft has Furphy now going 33rd overall to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Meanwhile, don’t be surprised if another team currently not on the board near the top of round two trades up to snag Furphy, shocked that he is still available.
“Even if you don’t believe in Furphy to the same degree as my projections, which had him fifth overall, he was the best available player in the top 100 from [Jonathan] Givony and [Jeremy] Woo for a long time,” added ESPN’s Kevin Pelton.
While it was unfortunate that Furphy was made to wait only to not have his name called, the 19-year-old only made his first state team in 2022 and even then, that was as part of the second team.
Speaking to former coaches and mentors of his in the lead-up to the draft, they all constantly stressed one thing — Furphy was never the type to complain, always grateful for every opportunity.
The early setbacks and Furphy’s attitude towards them have perfectly set him up for this moment and considering he wasn’t even expecting to have played college basketball last season, the 19-year-old is already ahead of schedule anyway.
With that in mind, while obviously disappointing, Furphy’s background means missing out on first-round selection isn’t necessarily the hit to his confidence that it would be for others.
If anything, it only adds another layer to his remarkable rise, should Furphy continue to exceed expectations.
WHICH TEAMS GOT THE BIGGEST STEALS?
You have to start with the Lakers, who landed an absolute steal at 17th overall when they drafted Tennessee wing Dalton Knecht.
The 23-year-old was the seventh overall player on ESPN’s big board but fell down the draft, much to the surprise of Jonathan Givony, who said he was “shocked” Knecht was still available.
The ESPN draft expert reported sources had been telling him Knecht’s age was the reason for his slide.
“I am shocked that Dalton Knecht is still on the board here,” Givony said
“For the last 30 minutes, I’ve been racking my brain, texting every GM, saying ‘What is going on? Why is Dalton Knecht falling?’
“They say, ‘There is no medical concern. It’s strictly because of the age. We are going with teenagers here.’
“I really do not understand this. Dalton Knecht is a first-team All-American, SEC Player of the Year, shot 40 percent from three. He can help an NBA team right now. He needs to come off the board in the next pick or two at worst.”
That ended up happening, with the Lakers taking the 6-foot-6 sharpshooter who averaged 21.7 points in his only season with the Volunteers after shooting 49.9 per cent from the field and 39.7 per cent from 3.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka described the value as “extraordinary” when speaking to reporters after the draft, while also revealing that new head coach J.J. Redick, who shares similar traits with Knecht, already has ideas on how to get him involved in the gameplan.
“We would have never imagined a player as skilled and sort of perfect for our needs would be there as Dalton Knecht,” Pelinka said.
“We had him as a top 10 player unanimously across our scouting reports. Across the board, just couldn’t be happier. I was at the SCC tournament scouting him extensively and in my mind I was like, ‘There is no way a player like this will be available for us to pick on draft night’.
“I was joking with coach Redick upstairs that we found a movement shooter to match his skills as a player and he already had his whiteboard out drawing up pindowns and ATOs and actions where he could run a movement shooter off screens. So, I think his mind is already working on drawing up plays for Dalton.
“If we would have had the 10th pick in the draft, we would have taken him, so to get that value at 17 is really extraordinary.”
Dalton Knecht is a Laker. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
Meanwhile, for Knecht, the fact he fell down the draft board is just another reason for the 23-year-old to continue carrying the “chip on my shoulder” that he developed in his three-school journey to the NBA.
“I’d say my why is I feel like I’ve been underrated my whole entire life ever since I was coming out of high school,” he said.
“I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder, and to this day I’ll always have that chip on my shoulder to go out there and prove people wrong.
“… Every single time I touch a basketball or walk into a gym, I always feel like I’ve got something to prove.
“It doesn’t matter where I’m at. It’s always going to be there, having that chip on my shoulder, feeling like I’ve been underrated for my whole life. It’s something I’m going to carry with me the rest of my career.”
Elsewhere, the Chicago Bulls were another team to pick up value in the first round as they landed Matas Buzelis, ESPN’s No.5 ranked prospect.
Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas said in his post-draft press conference that “did not plan” to draft Buzelis, who was not expected to be available when Chicago was picking at 11th overall.
Matas Buzelis was emotional. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“It just worked out that way,” Karnišovas said.
“But we’re very excited to add him to our young group. He’s a very versatile wing swing. We watched him all year.”
The 19-year-old profiles as a versatile piece to add to a Chicago team that is heading towards a rebuild of sorts, having taken the first step in that direction with the trade for Josh Giddey last week.
Then there is the Utah Jazz, who had a need in the backcourt and drafted their potential point guard of the future in Isaiah Collier.
The USC point guard was generating No.1 buzz late last year but had issues with turnovers and his shooting that saw him fall down draft boards, although at the 29th pick he is more than worth the swing given his high upside if he tidies up those other aspects of his game.
It is also worth mentioning the Portland Trail Blazers here as Donovan Clingan was at one point earlier in the week considered a chance of even going with the first overall pick.
Instead, he dropped to No.7, which was seen as his absolute floor in this year’s draft, as the Blazers picked up the best rim-protector in this year’s class.
TIMBERWOLVES TRADE SETS UP ‘HOLY S***’ COMBO
Well, this is going to be a lot of fun and Rob Dillingham is clearly a player the Timberwolves wanted, making the most aggressive move of the draft by trading up to No.8 to get him.
It is clearly a move for the future, with Mike Conley already 36 years old and in Dillingham Minnesota has a potential successor for the veteran point guard.
He profiles as a great fit as an off-ball shooter next to the franchise superstar Anthony Edwards, having shot 44 per cent from deep in his final season at Kentucky, while he also has plenty of potential as a passer.
Speaking to reporters after the draft, Dillingham said he is excited by the prospect of playing in “the open space on the floor” that the NBA offers.
Rob Dillingham is an exciting prospect. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
“There’s so much open floor, and I feel like I’m quick and I can get past dudes,” he added.
“It’s really the fact of me getting past dudes and making decisions. You’re playing with a bunch of NBA players, so players can’t really help off super a lot because these are NBA players and they knock down shots.
“I feel like, for me, getting past my defender and making plays with my teammates will be way easier, and if they don’t help, it’s just a bucket.”
The obvious concern in Dillingham’s game is his defence, with the 19-year-old standing at just 6-foot-1, although the Timberwolves as a roster are uniquely built to help hide that weakness in his game, especially when sharing the floor with Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.
THE ONE PICK FEW EXPERTS CAN AGREE ON
Well, Zach Edey was the most polarising draft prospect before Wednesday night and that was made even more clear by the reaction to Memphis’ pick in the first round.
The Grizzlies had a glaring need in the frontcourt after trading away Steven Adams and reportedly had shown interest in trading up to draft Donovan Clingan.
They weren’t able to pull that off so they ended up taking the next best option in Edey, who at 7-foot-4 and 300 pounds made a name for himself in college basketball at Purdue.
There were question marks about his mobility and how his game would translate to the NBA though and opinions were split across the board when it came to Memphis taking him at No.9.
Yahoo Sports’ draft expert Krysten Peek described it as “one of the worst picks I’ve seen in draft history”.
ESPN analyst and former Golden State Warriors manager, Bob Myers, called it the “most surprising pick” of the draft at the time.
In saying that, he did think Edey would be a good fit alongside Jaren Jackson Jr. and while Peek wasn’t a fan, there were plenty of other experts who saw the logic in the move for Memphis.
“There will always be concerns about how Edey fares defending in space, but a player of his size, skill, and touch ought to be able to produce in small, concentrated bursts off the bench at the very least,” wrote The Ringer’s Danny Chau.
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, meanwhile, wrote that he believes Edey will “carve out an NBA role and stick around for a while”.
“He’s going to be a killer rebounder, monster screener and will consistently establish his position even against some of the stronger NBA players,” wrote Vecenie.
“I’m done doubting Edey, even as an NBA player. He’s exceptionally tough, and intel suggest his worth ethic is excellent. He’s an unbelievable competitor who desperately wants to win. He plays with an edge that allows him to overcome a lot of the perceived deficiencies of his game.”
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, meanwhile, was one of Edey’s biggest fans and said on Brian Windhorst’s podcast before the draft that he thinks the 22-year-old will be “awesome” in the NBA.
Zach Edey was a contentious pick. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“You hear them a lot possibly moving up. If they don’t move up, they need a center in the worst way and Zach Edey is clearly the second best center in the draft,” Givony said of Memphis.
“I look at him and I say, ‘What if Jonas Valanciunas was six inches taller?’. That’s what Zach Edey is… he plays incredibly hard, he’s physical, he’s competitive, he draws fouls and rebounds at a ridiculous rate. He is the best screener in this draft which counts a tonne in today’s NBA.
“We need to remember he’s been playing basketball for six years… he’s got better and better every year. His conditioning has improved… I just think when you put him in a smaller role in the NBA where he can go out and foul people, he’s going to be awesome. I think he’s a starting center in the NBA.”
All of this is to not necessarily say one person is right and another is wrong but that there were varying opinions on Edey before the draft and that was only magnified afterwards by how high he was taken.
Edey averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks as a senior while helping Purdue to the national championship game.
THUNDER REPLACE GIDDEY AND CONTINUE TO DO THINGS THEIR OWN WAY
Well, Oklahoma City clearly has a type and after making a charge to top seed in the highly-competitive Western Conference last season, why not lean into it more?
First, the Thunder drafted a guard and forward that general manager Sam Presti did not want to specifically say were picked as replacements for Josh Giddey, who the team traded to Chicago for Alex Caruso last week.
Instead, he wanted to focus more on the type of players they were — namely high-level processors with positional size and versatility.
So, Oklahoma City took Nikola Topic 12th overall even though Presti admitted he would likely not play next season as he recovers from an ACL tear he suffered in June.
Then, the Thunder traded five second-round picks to move up in the draft and take the extremely versatile Dillon Jones with the 26th overall pick.
Nikola Topic was drafted by the Thunder. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
“I wouldn’t compare him specifically to Josh… but like I said earlier, guys that are big for their position, that process the game well, those guys can play pretty much all over the floor,” Presti said of Topic.
“We value those skillsets more than trying to replicate a specific role. I don’t think you can have enough people that can make decisions on the court and when you combine that with size, it definitely increases the effectiveness and probability of those decisions being good.”
Presti said that he had travelled alongside the team’s longtime director of medical services, Donnie Strack, to visit Topic before the draft, where he underwent an in-person medical exam.
A group of Thunder scouts also interviewed Topic at the NBA Draft Combine in Italy and while the expectation is that it will be a redshirt rookie season, the team’s similar experience with Chet Holmgren gave them confidence this was an opportunity worth taking.
But it were those qualities Presti mentioned earlier and specifically players who are big for their position and that can process the game well that made both Topic and Jones solid picks.
Of course, Giddey was one of those players at 6-foot-8 with his playmaking and high basketball IQ. So, it is safe to say the Thunder found potential replacements for his production.
Australian duo Josh Green and Dante Exum will be playing for an NBA championship after the Dallas Mavericks humiliated the Minnesota Timberwolves on their own court.
A Luka Doncic-inspired Mavericks ran away 124-103 winners in Game 5 to seal the Western Conference Finals series 4-1 and book a spot in the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.
It means Kyrie Irving, who had 15 points in the second quarter for Dallas, will come up against his former team and, more specifically, the Boston fanbase in a series that is sure to open up old wounds.
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Doncic stars as Mavs go 3-0 over Wolves | 00:50
Doncic, who had 36 points in the win and was later announced as the Western Conference Finals MVP, finished the series averaging 32.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists.
Meanwhile, Irving once again proved himself the dependable co-star the Mavs hoped he would be when they traded for him, scoring 36 points after averaging 27.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists in the series.
Meanwhile, for Minnesota, Friday’s loss was a jarring end to a playoffs run that promised so much after an Anthony Edwards-inspired Timberwolves eliminated the defending champions in the Western Conference semi-finals.
Former NBA head coach and current TNT broadcaster Stan Van Gundy described it as an “embarrassing” result for Minnesota, who lost all three home games during the series.
“A great win in Game 4 and then you come home again and lay an egg,” he said in commentary.
Overall though, while a disappointing ending, the season as a whole was certainly a step in the right direction for Minnesota as Edwards announced himself as an ascending NBA superstar.
Kyrie Irving will return to Boston. Brian Fluharty/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
Doncic alone outscored Minnesota in the first quarter, putting up 20 points as the Mavericks jumped out to a 35-19 lead heading into the second.
That was despite the game being tied up at 18-18 halfway through the opening period, with Dallas ending the quarter on a 17-1 run as the Timberwolves struggled to get anything going.
Minnesota shot just 31 per cent from the field in the quarter compared to 61 per cent for Dallas, with Rudy Gobert (seven points) leading the Timberwolves for shot attempts in the first.
It was the dream start for Dallas, although the challenge entering the second was to maintain the same level of intensity as Doncic got a well-earned rest to open the quarter.
With that in mind, it was Irving’s turn to take over as the Mavericks guard scored six points to go with an assist in the opening three minutes of the quarter before Doncic checked back in.
Dallas was up 46-23 at that point, with Green and Exum both on the court early in the second for the Mavs and finding different ways to make an impact.
Green, who had a pair of steals and set up P.J. Washington with a perfect bounce pass in the first quarter, made a driving layup while generally playing with his trademark energy on both ends.
Exum, meanwhile, at one point hustled for a crucial defensive rebound, although there was little he could do when Edwards made him touch earth on a stepback 3.
The Mavericks had been consistently blitzing Edwards pick-and-rolls all game trying to make life hard to the Timberwolves guard and were largely having success with that strategy, although sometimes you just have to live with the fact big players make big plays.
Still, that Edwards 3-pointer only cut the Dallas lead to 46-26 with 8:43 left in the second.
There Timberwolves had a number of opportunities to make it a manageable deficit at halftime but just couldn’t consistently make shots when they needed to.
And on two specific occasions, the Mavericks responded with clutch shots of their own on the other end to really make it sting.
First, Edwards missed a 3-pointer which would have had the Timberwolves only trailing 49-35 midway through the second quarter, with Derrick Jones Jr. making a triple on the next possession.
A few minutes later, Minnesota had a chance to cut the difference to 53-39 but Naz Reid couldn’t make the 3 as Washington then drilled one from deep to push the buffer out to 20.
It didn’t get any better before halftime for the Timberwolves as the Mavericks pushed their lead out to 69-40 off the back of a 17-4 run to close out the quarter.
Irving had 15 points in the quarter while Doncic made a few clutch shots to end the half on 25.
Any hope of an early response from Minnesota in the third was quickly put to bed by Dallas as the Mavericks opened the period on a 6-2 run to take the biggest lead of the game.
Minnesota won the third quarter 33-28 but still trailed 97-73, with just 12 minutes to erase a 24-point deficit and save its season.
In the end, the Timberwolves never really got close to threatening a comeback as the Mavericks booked a date with the Celtics in the Finals.
NBA FINALS SCHEDULE (Times AEST)
Game 1: Friday, June 7, 10.30am in Boston
Game 2: Monday, June 10, 10am in Boston
Game 3: Thursday, June 13, 10.30am in Dallas
Game 4: Saturday, June 15, 9am in Dallas
Game 5 (If necessary): Tuesday, June 18, 10.30am in Boston
Game 6 (If necessary): Friday, June 21, 10.30am in Dallas
Game 7 (If necessary): Monday, June 24, 10am in Boston
Anthony Edwards scored 29 points and Karl-Anthony Towns produced a crucial late burst of long-range shooting as the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Dallas Mavericks 105-100 on Tuesday to keep their NBA Western Conference finals series alive.
Minnesota, trailing 3-0 in the best-of-seven series heading into game four, held off a furious late rally to close out a battling victory at the Mavericks’ home arena.
Edwards led the Minnesota scoring but the decisive contribution came from Towns, who drained a trio of three-pointers to help the Timberwolves take a 98-92 lead with less than two minutes remaining.
Edwards extended the cushion to 100-92 via a jump shot with 1min 47sec left on the clock to leave Minnesota in control.
But there was still time for Dallas to give the third seeds a nervous finale, closing to within three at 100-97 before Edwards’ sublime pull-up jumper from 21 feet put the Timberwolves five points clear with 40 seconds left.
The visitors held that advantage through to the buzzer and now have slender lifeline to cling to as they head to game five back in Minneapolis on Thursday.
Edwards said afterwards he had been determined to prevent Dallas clinching a clean sweep.
“I’ve never been swept in my career, even though I’ve been to the playoffs three times,” Edwards told TNT television.
“I took it personally.
Edwards played a starring role to keep Minnesota’s season alive. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I definitely didn’t want to get swept, especially here on their home court, hearing the fans talking trash all day. I think we came out and competed at a high level today.
“I think I was aggressive. I didn’t shy away from the ball and they kept giving it to me and trusting me,” added Edwards.
Dallas meanwhile were left frustrated after losing despite another triple double from Luka Doncic, who finished with 28 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.
Doncic however had an off-night from long-range, making just four-of-11 from three-point distance. As a team, Dallas went 14-from-40 outside the arc.
“This one’s on me,” Doncic said after the loss. “We got to do better. They’ve won one game, we’ve just got to focus on the next one.
“It was close in the end but we couldn’t finish. So they won and now we just have to focus on the next one.” Towns finished with 25 points, with Mike Conley adding 14 and Rudy Gobert 13.
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving combined for 66 points and Dallas surged home in a 116-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday that gave the Mavericks a 3-0 stranglehold on their NBA Western Conference final.
The latest thriller in the series, this time in Dallas, came after the Mavs won games one and two in Minneapolis by a total of four points.
In a fourth quarter that saw the teams trade the lead seven times, the star Mavs duo spearheaded a closing 12-3 scoring run.
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Boston eyeing Eastern Conference sweep | 01:01
The Mavericks will have their first chance to clinch the series when they host game four on Tuesday.
No team has rallied from 3-0 down to win an NBA playoff series, but Doncic said Dallas cannot get complacent.
“We need one more,” he said. “They have an amazing team, so nothing’s done.”
Doncic and Irving each finished with 33 points, Doncic adding seven rebounds and five assists and Irving producing 14 of his points in the fourth quarter.
P.J. Washington scored 16 points, draining a three-pointer that put Dallas up for good, 107-104, with 3:38 to play.
Daniel Gafford blocked three shots for Dallas, including a monster rejection on Mike Conley in the final minute.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 26 points, but had just four in the fourth quarter. Anthony Edwards missed all four of his attempts in the fourth.
A bruising contest saw the Mavericks lose Dereck Lively early in the second quarter after the rookie reserve took a knee to the back of the head from a leaping Karl-Anthony Towns.
The frightening moment brought Mavs coach Jason Kidd out to check on Lively, who had already taken a painful knee to the groin from Towns trying to guard him under the basket.
Down by as many as 12 in the second quarter, the Timberwolves had cut the deficit to eight at half-time and used a big third quarter to get on level terms.
Edwards soared in for a one-handed jam that cut Dallas’ lead to 77-73 midway through the third.
He then drilled a pair of step-back baskets to tie it up before Naz Reid connected to make it 79-77 with less than four minutes left in the third — their first lead since the opening minutes.
It was tied at 87-87 heading into the fourth.
The winners of the series face either the Boston Celtics or Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals.
The Celtics, winners of a league-best 64 games in the regular season, have a 3-0 lead ahead of game four of their Eastern Conference final in Indianapolis on Monday.
A Luka Doncic game-winning three-pointer has lifted the Dallas Mavericks past the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-108 in epic scenes to see the Mavericks improve to 2-0 as they return to home court.
With Rudy Gobert guarding him and Dallas trailing 106-108, Doncic nailed the massive step back triple to give Dallas the lead with three seconds left before cursing at the French big man, leaving the Minnesota crowd stunned.
The Wolves had one last chance to win it, with Anthony Edwards dishing to an open Naz Reid, whose shot just rimmed out to seal a big Mavericks win.
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It capped off a wild seesawing affair including 11 lead changes in the fourth quarter, with Dallas now in control of the Western Conference finals series.
“We wanted that (matchup),’ Doncic, who finished with 32 points 10 rebounds and 13 assists, told TNT of the last possession.
He later added: “I can’t move fast, but I can move faster than him,‘ Doncic added later, poking fun at Gobert.
The series now moves to Dallas for Game 3 on Monday (all times AEDT).
