Timberwolves earn 105-100 win over Mavs as Kyrie Irving's 'Super Bowl' taunt backfires on Dallas with deficit reduced to 3-1
- Anthony Edwards put up 29 points as Minnesota kept their playoff hopes alive
- READ MORE: Irving is heard mocking the Timberwolves before Game 4 clash
Kyrie Irving said it was their Super Bowl, and the Minnesota Timberwolves certainly rose to the occasion to keep their NBA playoff hopes alive on Tuesday night.
After falling 3-0 behind in their series against the Mavericks, the Timberwolves knew anything but a win in Dallas would seal their fate and book the Mavericks' place in the NBA Finals.
But in a gutsy performance at American Airlines Center, Anthony Edwards and Co made Irving pay for his pregame jibe by earning a hard-fought 105-100 win which reduces the deficit to 3-1 and ensures the series heads to a fifth game in Minnesota.
There was no sweep for the Mavs thanks to the brilliance of Edwards, who put up a game-high 29 points, and an inspired Karl-Anthony Towns, who was on hand with 25 points, as the pair provided Chris Finch's men with a much-needed glimmer of hope.
Karl-Anthony Towns (pictured) helped the Timberwolves beat the Mavericks and keep their NBA playoff hopes alive
Kyrie Irving's pregame jibes about the game being Minnesota's 'Super Bowl' backfired
Before Tuesday's game, Irving was heard taunting their Western Conference rivals in a clip which quickly went viral on social media.
'This is their Super Bowl,' the Mavs point guard said while warming up. 'It's just a normal game for us.'
Irving recorded 16 points, two rebounds and four assists as Dallas came unstuck in front of their home crowd. It is the first time the 32-year-old has ever lost a close-out game in his NBA career.
Star teammate Luka Doncic, meanwhile, produced a 28-point haul with 15 rebounds and 10 assists.
After Minnesota led by as many as 12 early on, the teams battled on even terms for the first 18-plus minutes of the second half, with a Towns 3-pointer with 5:41 remaining giving the Timberwolves a 92-90 lead.
The visitors never trailed again, thanks in large part to Towns, whose 3-pointer on Minnesota's next possession made it a five-point game.
When Towns connected again from beyond the arc with 2:54 to go, and Edwards followed with a banker in the lane 67 seconds later, the Timberwolves had broken things open at 100-92.
A desperation 3-pointer by Doncic as he was being fouled with 13.0 seconds left kept the Mavericks alive at 103-100, but he missed the subsequent free throw.
Anthony Edwards was at his typical brilliant best after putting up a game-high 29 points
Luka Doncic was on hand with 28 points despite the Mavericks' eventual defeat on the night
The Timberwolves set up a fifth game in Minnesota later this week after their Game 4 win
Irving and Doncic have work on their hands after letting their rivals get back into the series
After a timeout, Naz Reid got behind a pressing Dallas defense for a game-clinching layup with 11.1 seconds remaining.
Edwards' series-high point total came as part of a near-triple-double. He also found time for team-highs in rebounds with 10 and assists with nine.
After missing 19 of his 22 3-point attempts in the first three games of the series, Towns buried four of five before fouling out with 25 points. He made nine of his 13 shots overall.
Rudy Gobert equaled Edwards' 10 rebounds while also completing a double-double with 13 points for third-seeded Minnesota, while Mike Conley had 14 points and Jaden McDaniels 10.
