The Minnesota Timberwolves forced a Game 5 against the Dallas Mavericks after pulling off a 105-100 road win in Game 4. With a home game coming up, will the Timberwolves inch closer to NBA history with another win this Friday? Or, will the Mavs get the job done this time around?

Catch this game live on Friday, May 31, 2024 at 8:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Dallas Mavericks (3-1)

Projected Starting Five:

• Luka Doncic
• Kyrie Irving
• Derrick Jones Jr.
• P.J. Washington
• Daniel Gafford

The story of the day for the Mavs in Game 4 was the cold outing of their superstar duo of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic. Irving scored 16 points in Game 4 but took 18 attempts from the field to get there. Doncic, meanwhile, had a broken aim, going just 7/21 from the floor for 28 inefficient points. Dallas also struggled defensively, with the Timberwolves torching the Mavs out on the perimeter and in the shaded area. 

Not having rookie big man Derrick Lively II around hurt the Mavs, and it’s uncertain whether he would be ready to give it a go in Game 5. Maxi Kleber returned in Game 4 after missing several games since the first round due to injury, but he never came close to replicating the positive impact Lively provides on the floor. Closeout games are always difficult, but perhaps the Mavericks will have it sorted out on Friday in Minnesota, where they are 4-1 against the spread in their last 10 appearances.

Home: Minnesota Timberwolves (1-3)

Projected Starting Five:

• Mike Conley
• Anthony Edwards
• Jaden McDaniels
• Karl-Anthony Towns
• Rudy Gobert

First of all, there is now proof that Karl-Anthony Towns is still here. A missing person in the first three games of the series, Towns finally showed up to work and earned his paycheck with a huge performance in Game 4, firing 25 points on 9/13 shooting. He knocked down four 3-pointers, some of which were fourth-quarter daggers that deflated the Mavericks. 

Anthony Edwards also sizzled for 29 points with 10 rebounds and nine assists. Minnesota somehow gained momentum amid its dire situation in the series, and it could be all the Timberwolves need to pull off another win in Game 5. The series has been closer than what the record suggests. Outside of Game 3, the other two losses of the Timberwolves to Dallas had a combined scoring margin of just four points. The luck could now be swinging in the favor of Minnesota, as evidenced by Towns shooting like himself in Game 4. 

The Timberwolves are 18-14 ATS this season in games after a loss.

Picks

Spread: Minnesota Timberwolves (-4.5)

Over/Under: Over (209.5)