The Celtics will have to wait until at least Thursday night to find out their NBA Finals opponent after the Wolves pulled off a 105-100 Game 4 upset win over the Mavericks on Tuesday night. The victory kept Minnesota from falling victim to a stunning sweep but Dallas still holds a commanding 3-1 series advantage with Game 5 looming back in Minnesota on Thursday night.
No team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit in an NBA series. However, there are a few subplots in the current matchup that make Minnesota a stronger candidate to push Dallas to the limit, much like last year’s Celtics. Let’s take a closer look at the dynamics in play as we wonder whether the Wolves have a realistic chance of spoiling a highly anticipated Celtics-Mavericks matchup.
A key injury in the frontcourt
The Mavericks played Game 4 without starting center Derrick Lively, who suffered a strained neck in Game 3. Dallas did get back another key reserve in Maxi Kleber but he looked far from 100 percent in his first action in weeks following a shoulder injury.
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Without Lively serving as a prime finisher and rim protector, Dallas looked more vulnerable against Minnesota’s imposing size for the first time all series long. Karl Anthony-Towns broke out of his shooting slump with 25 points and Minnesota shot a series-best 52 percent from the field. Daniel Gafford played admirably in the starting five (12 points in 31 minutes) but Dallas got nothing out of their reserve bigs (Kleber and Dwight Powell had two points in 16 combined minutes).
Lively’s status is day-to-day at this point but the Wolves are in position to take advantage with their bigs if he can’t get back on the floor or isn’t near 100 percent.
A streaky track record
Minnesota is the higher seed so they will get to host Game 5 on their home floor after escaping Dallas with a victory. The Wolves have had their ups and downs during this postseason run and have responded to adversity quite well in their last matchup. Denver won three straight games against them after falling into an 0-2 hole to begin the series. Minnesota punched back with a blowout win in Game 6 and a gusty Game 7 victory on the road.
On paper, Minnesota is the better team than Dallas from a talent standpoint, even though the Mavericks have more proven firepower with their backcourt. With the Wolves already holding an impressive road record this postseason (6-2), it’s easy to simplify the process for the Wolves after winning Game 4. Winning four straight games is daunting but winning just one more on the road now is a feasible scenario. The Wolves are carrying that kind of confidence after Game 4.
“We knew that after Game 1 we could win,” Jaden McDaniels told reporters in Dallas. “I’d say the only game they really beat us was (Game 3). The rest of them were close and our mistakes led us to lose. …We could probably run off three more now.”
Who should Celtics be rooting for?
It’s unclear whether the team has an actual preference for an opponent at this point. However, there’s little doubt that anyone inside the organization would mind a longer series at this point, if only to wear down the Mavericks. Dallas will have plenty of time to rest up if they win in five games but things will get interesting in a hurry if the Wolves win on their home floor in Game 5, something they will be favored to do.
