3 Studs, 2 duds from Mavericks' commanding Game 3 win over Timberwolves

3. Stud - Luka Doncic

In Game 2, Luka Doncic was excellent as he finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists while also nailing a game-winning 3-pointer over Rudy Gobert, and he carried this momentum into Game 3 as he was dialed in from the opening tip and helped the Dallas Mavericks get a huge home win.

Doncic finished with 33 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and five steals while shooting 10-20 from the field and 5-11 from downtown. He got going early in this game, and he didn't slow down.

Doncic had his head on a swivel all game long, and his passing out of the pick and roll and in open space was excellent even though he only had five assists.

Doncic was knifing his way to the bucket inside the arc, and he was locked in from downtown. He was hitting step-backs with ease and his 3-point shot off the catch was even falling. Doncic's improvement as a shooter off the catch has helped him fully unlock his game this season and makes his fit next to Kyrie Irving even more seamless.

Since Doncic can effectively play off the ball due to his deadly shooting off the catch, this allows Irving to control the game when he wants to, and Doncic is fine with that. Having two closers and two players who can control the game has been massive for them this season, and Doncic and the Mavs are one win away from clinching their first NBA Finals berth since 2011.