Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks ready for ‘war’ Game 2 against the Timberwolves

MINNEAPOLIS — The Dallas Mavericks took care of business to begin the Western Conference Finals, earning a 106-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1. The team understands the opportunity presented in Friday’s game. A chance to go back 2-0 in a back-to-back homecoming series could solidify a strong position to reach the NBA Finals.

“We just have honest conversations. That’s the type of energy we have to bring into the game,” Kyrie Irving said during Friday’s shootaround. “And also, being aware that we’re playing against a great team and we want to respect the other group. I think the most important thing is to just respect your opponent and give the game what it needs. So, prepare yourself, make sure you’re rested, make sure you have the strategy drilled into your head for tonight, and just be prepared for a very noisy, very physical, warlike environment.

Irving tends to pick his positions early before launching into aggressive attacks, but he scored 24 of his 30 points in the first half, the most he’s had before halftime all season. He plans to continue to play with the flow and take advantage of the opportunities that come his way. Luka Doncic was aggressive down the stretch, scoring 15 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter.

“It was a great first half. “I felt like I was pacing the game a little bit and making sure I got off the ground,” Irving said. “I understood they were coming off the seventh game, so they might have been a little tired, but we wanted to stay aggressive and make sure we took advantage of the easy opportunities.

“In the second half, I like to say Luka joined the party, my teammates joined the party,” Irving said. “And when we play well like that, it goes a long way to our composure and comfort in the game. We understand we’re playing a big team, but we just have to stay aggressive and make sure they feel us too.

The Timberwolves had many successful attacks taking advantage of ball pressure from Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards. The Mavericks remained ready to deal with it in the first game. Irving mentioned how the contrast between his attacks and Doncic’s made it difficult for Minnesota.

“I feel like our threat to go to the basket from three-quarter court and rushing the court helps keep their bigs away from the basket,” Irving said. “In other series they had very aggressive guards. However, Luka and I are different in the way we like to attack and tackle each other. We have a good mix of creating opportunities not only for ourselves but also for our teammates When we make the right basketball plays, it’s a great game to watch and be a part of.

Every game the Mavericks play now comes with pressure and high stakes. Irving stressed the importance of calmly handling the extra attention and distractions from the media. He believes he can personally draw on his extensive experience reaching the finals and conference finals to deal with it.

“Treating basketball in a very extreme way. “It’s the Western Conference Finals, and we’re aware of the environment we’re in, with additional media coverage and more responsibilities that we have to prepare for,” Irving said. “But it’s a time where you eliminate a lot of those distractions and extra fluff, and you just go to your room and really focus on what you want to accomplish.

“It’s the time of year to do it. With only four teams left, the family and the media should understand, and that’s what comes with it,” Irving said. “I try to use my experience from the highest levels – the finals and the conference finals – as a litmus test, a stress test, and be able to coach my guys better alongside J Kidd and the rest of the coaches and being an extension of those guys, but I also understand that I’m still learning as a student of the game myself.”

An example of a potential distraction could be considered the hyper focus placed on Irving’s reaction comments regarding Edwards’ use stating he is ready to face him before the series. He turned that into a positive, expressing respect for Edwards’ “no-fear mentality” and looks forward to continuing to compete with him on the show.

“When I said it was extra motivation, it was nothing personal against Ant. It was more about growing up in the league,” Irving said. “I’m in my 13th year, and he’s in his first few years, very successful. It’s the familiarity I have with many young players who come into the league under a lot of pressure and rise to the occasion.

“I had the great opportunity to win a championship in my first five years, achieving things that many don’t achieve,” Irving explained. “I know what it takes, and you have to have a fearless mentality, like Ant. It just makes me better, and I appreciate that he can push me at this age, and I can also push and inspire him.

LEARN MORE: The Timberwolves hold a ‘brutal’ movie session; The Mavericks are not satisfied after the first game

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