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The Western Conference Finals are set, and it is a matchup few would have predicted coming into the season. The Minnesota Timberwolves advanced past the second round for only the second time in franchise history, and they will be taking on a Dallas Mavericks team that has proved doubters of their star backcourt wrong.
Both teams, as currently constructed, have played lockdown defense, but they also both can score in bunches. In this article, we are going to explain how you can watch the series.
Where is the Timberwolves vs. Mavericks series?
The Mavericks knocked out the one-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, while the Timberwolves just shocked the world and sent home the defending champion Denver Nuggets, who were a two-seed. Minnesota is the three-seed, so they will have home-court advantage in this round of the playoffs.
They play their games at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and that arena will serve as host for Games 1, 2, 5, and 7. Games 3, 4, and 6 will be at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
How to watch Timberwolves vs. Mavericks
Game 1: Mavericks @ Timberwolves on Wednesday, May 22 at 8:30 p.m. ET – TNT
Game 2: Mavericks @ Timberwolves on Friday, May 24 at 8:30 p.m. ET – TNT
Game 3: Timberwolves @ Mavericks on Sunday, May 26 at 8 p.m. ET – TNT
Game 4: Timberwolves @ Mavericks on Tuesday, May 28 at 8:30 p.m. ET – TNT
Game 5: Mavericks @ Timberwolves on Thursday, May 30 at 8:30 p.m. ET – TNT
Game 6: Timberwolves @ Mavericks on Saturday, June 1 at 8:30 p.m. ET – TNT
Game 7: Mavericks @ Timberwolves on Monday, June 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET – TNT
Timberwolves storylines
Throughout their history, the Timberwolves have struggled to advance deep into the postseason. In fact, prior to their run this year, Minnesota had only ever won two playoff series, both of which came when Kevin Garnett led the team to the Western Conference Finals in 2004.
It has been 20 years since that run that is so memorable for Timberwolves fans. Now, they are hoping to take it a step further, as advancing to the NBA Finals is a real possibility.
The Timberwolves have a deep rotation with tons of talent and a clear identity. That identity is defense. Rudy Gobert won his fourth Defensive Player of the Year Award thanks to his rim protection, and Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have emerged as elite perimeter defenders.
It all led to the team having the best defensive rating in the NBA during the regular season. Minnesota can also hold their own offensively, though, and they proved that in their series against the Nuggets. It took Minnesota seven games to beat Denver, but they were able to collect three wins on the road, they blew Denver out twice, and they even completed the biggest Game 7 comeback in NBA history.
Anthony Edwards is a star. Despite being only 22 years old, he is capable of hitting big shots, as is Karl-Anthony Towns, a player who has claim to being the best shooting big man of all time.
Beating the Nuggets was no easy feat. The defending champions were predicted by many to make it back to the NBA Finals, especially considering they beat Minnesota in the first round in only five games the year prior.
The Timberwolves are finally healthy, though, and they are built for playoff success. Every game from here on out will be the biggest game in franchise history, and although Minnesota is a young team, they appear to have the right mindset to win in the Western Conference Finals.
Mavericks storylines
The Mavericks are another team that a lot of people have doubted, and they have also proved critics wrong. Many thought the pairing of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving would never work. The two's defensive ability has been questioned in the past, and Irving's stint with the Brooklyn Nets was more than weird.
During their time together, they have displayed how effective they can be when sharing the court. Both players are among the league's best when it comes to isolation scoring, but they have also both picked it up defensively.
They are surrounded by elite defensive players like Dereck Lively, Derrick Jones Jr., Daniel Gafford, and P.J. Washington, too. It has led to the team having one of the best defenses in the NBA since the NBA trade deadline. The latter two of those players were trade deadline acquisitions.
As a five-seed, the Mavericks have been the lower-ranked team in each of their playoff series so far. They beat a team loaded with stars in the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, and they are fresh off of a victory over the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
Dallas isn't your average five-seed, though. Luka Doncic is one of the best players in the NBA, and he has Conference Finals experience in his own right. Dallas made the Western Conference Finals in 2022, where they lost to the eventual-champion Golden State Warriors.
The Mavericks are a better team than they were two seasons ago. Doncic is primed to take the next step, and he has the benefit of playing alongside a former champion in Kyrie Irving. This series is sure to be action-packed, and you won't want to miss a single game.
