Tuesday night was a heartbreaker for Dallas. The Mavericks, despite leading for much of the game, fell short to a scrappy Minnesota Timberwolves team by a mere 3 points (124-121). But unlike past post-game meltdowns, the blame game was nonexistent. Instead, superstars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving took a surprising step – they shouldered the blame themselves.
Doncic, known for his dazzling playmaking and scoring prowess, had a night to forget. While the stat sheet showed a decent 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists, his shooting was off kilter. He missed a whopping 20 shots and committed a costly 7 turnovers. Frustration was evident on his face throughout the game.
“This one’s on me,” Doncic said bluntly after the game, owning up to his mistakes. “Those sloppy turnovers killed us. I gotta take better care of the ball, period.”
Doncic didn’t stop there. He took full responsibility for the loss. “We lost because of me. My lousy play let my teammates and the fans down. It won’t happen again, mark my words.”
Irving’s struggles came from downtown. The usually reliable sharpshooter could only connect on 3 of his 14 three-point attempts, finishing with 24 points but shooting a lowly 9 for 23 overall. He too was his own harshest critic.
“Those wide-open threes were there for the taking, and I bricked them all,” Irving confessed, clearly disappointed. “That’s on me. I choked when it mattered most.”
Here’s the twist: despite their off nights, the Mavericks actually led for most of the game. They even had a comfortable double-digit lead in the third quarter. But the Timberwolves, led by a red-hot Anthony Edwards (32 points), wouldn’t go down without a fight. They unleashed a brutal 19-2 run that completely flipped the script.
Minnesota never trailed again after seizing control late in the third. The Mavericks fought valiantly, tying the score a few times in the fourth quarter. But every time they clawed their way back, the Timberwolves responded with a clutch shot or another scoring surge.
This loss was a gut punch for the Mavericks’ playoff hopes. They’re currently clinging to the 7th seed in the West, but the New Orleans Pelicans are hot on their heels, just 1.5 games behind. Every win is crucial now.
“We can’t dwell on this,” said head coach Jason Kidd, his voice firm. “We gotta learn from it and move on. Memphis is next on Thursday, and that’s where our focus needs to be. We can’t afford to lose many more games if we want to hold onto our spot.”
Both Doncic and Irving echoed their coach’s message. They vowed to use this loss as motivation for the remaining games.
“Nobody wants to be stuck in that play-in tournament,” Doncic declared, a fierce determination in his voice. “We gotta start playing with a lot more focus and intensity, starting with yours truly.”
This loss also highlighted a troubling trend for Doncic. The Minnesota Timberwolves seem to have his number. In his 10 career games against them, he’s averaged a disappointing 19.6 points per game while shooting a below-average 37.2% from the field. This latest loss continued that trend, with his 7 turnovers adding to his frustration.
Irving has fared better historically against the Timberwolves, but his cold shooting night was a major factor in the loss.
“They have a way of making things tough for us,” Irving acknowledged after the game. “We need to figure out a way to crack their defense.”
With only a handful of games left in the regular season, the pressure is mounting for the Mavericks. They need to get back on track quickly to avoid falling further down the standings.
Fortunately, their upcoming schedule offers some opportunities. They have games against the Grizzlies, Kings, and Spurs. Winning these games would be crucial for securing a playoff spot and potentially even home-court advantage in the first round.
“We know these next few games are huge,” Doncic said. “Kyrie and I have to be leaders and bounce back with much stronger performances. If we want to make a deep playoff run, we need to start playing like the team we know we can be.”
