Key Highlights *** Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving combined for a playoff-best 72 points on 69.1 percent true shooting in the Dallas Mavericks‘ Game 5 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Mavericks’ 129.8 offensive rating in the half-court was the second-highest mark Minnesota has allowed all season. Doncic and Irving put on a shot-making extravaganza, attempting just seven free throws and going 28-of-49 (57.1 percent) from the floor. If the first quarter of Luka Doncic’s Game 5 — a 20-point showcase defined by snarls, competitive spirit, and deeper triples — thrust his Dallas Mavericks onto the last bridge before the NBA Finals, his running mate Kyrie Irving, lugged them all across with his 25 points between the second and third quarters — a dizzying array of jumpers and finishes. Together, the contrasting, complementary stars totaled 72 points on 49 shots. After the Minnesota Timberwolves knotted the game at 18 midway through the first, Doncic ignited a 17-1 run to close the first and extinguish any thoughts of a Game 6 return. Minnesota never again drew closer than 16 points and trailed by at least 20 the final 27.5 minutes. It was a complete pummeling, a no-doubt knockout. As they were throughout the series, Doncic and Irving were easily the two best players in this game. Nobody else rivaled their greatness. The entire five-game stretch was a culmination of the Doncic-Irving pairing, but none more so than Game 5. Seventy-two combined points marked the duo’s most in 17 playoff games. Minnesota’s defense spiraled in Game 5 as Dallas generated 129.8 points per 100 possessions in the half-court, the second-highest number the Timberwolves had allowed in any of their 98 games. Doncic and Irving unraveled Minnesota’s defense all series. In Game 5, the depths of Doncic and Irving’s brilliance shone bright. They found success against every decision the Timberwolves settled on. It was a perfect encapsulation of the lengths Minnesota wandered toward all series to try and slow these two, only for them to ultimately win out time after time. The gaudy offensive showing says far more about their greatness than Minnesota’s struggles, even if it committed a good deal more unforced mistakes than typical. Game 5 felt like a summation of Doncic’s resolute mastery and the tweaks he’s embraced to dismantle the league’s premier defense. Together, Doncic and Irving displayed versatile scoring styles and outplayed every defense tactic thrown their way throughout the series. The duo’s offensive brilliance was unmatched, proving they are scheme-proof stars in this matchup. <img src="https://clicksportsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/The-Luka-Kyrie-Experiment-Reaches-Its-Peak-in-Game-5"> <img src="https://clicksportsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1717327864_479_The-Luka-Kyrie-Experiment-Reaches-Its-Peak-in-Game-5"> <img src="https://clicksportsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1717327864_953_The-Luka-Kyrie-Experiment-Reaches-Its-Peak-in-Game-5"> <img src="https://clicksportsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1717327864_903_The-Luka-Kyrie-Experiment-Reaches-Its-Peak-in-Game-5"> <img src="https://clicksportsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1717327865_82_The-Luka-Kyrie-Experiment-Reaches-Its-Peak-in-Game-5"> <img src="https://clicksportsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1717327865_470_The-Luka-Kyrie-Experiment-Reaches-Its-Peak-in-Game-5"> <img src="https://clicksportsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1717327866_349_The-Luka-Kyrie-Experiment-Reaches-Its-Peak-in-Game-5"> <img src="https://clicksportsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1717327866_810_The-Luka-Kyrie-Experiment-Reaches-Its-Peak-in-Game-5"> <img src="https://clicksportsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1717327867_342_The-Luka-Kyrie-Experiment-Reaches-Its-Peak-in-Game-5">
