5 Studs from Mavericks' NBA Finals clinching win over Timberwolves

After losing disappointingly on Tuesday night to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Dallas Mavericks were not going to let that happen again.

Luka Doncic and Daniel Gafford both attributed the loss to a lack of energy, and there was an overload of energy to start Game 5.

Doncic went on an absolute heater to begin tonight's game, and the Mavs got out to a 35-19 lead at the end of the first quarter.

5 Studs from Mavericks' NBA Finals clinching win over Timberwolves

Doncic and company led this team to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2011, and Jamal Crawford's prediction that Dallas would close out Minnesota came true.

Excitement is building as the Mavs' series against the Boston Celtics will begin next week, and Doncic proved everyone who doubted him wrong.

Here are five studs from the Mavs' NBA Finals clinching win over the Timberwolves.

5. Stud - P.J. Washington

Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington struggled tremendously in Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he had to do more in Game 5. In Game 4, Washington finished with just 10 points while shooting 3-13 from the field and 2-9 from downtown. Despite getting tons of good looks, Washington couldn't make them count.

It was a different story in Game 5, and Washington finished with 12 points and two steals while shooting 4-9 from the field and 2-5 from downtown, and the Mavs looked to get him involved immediately at the start of the second half with a lob from Luka Doncic, and he made things hard on Karl-Anthony Towns all series long.

Washington may not have been the third star that he was during Dallas' series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he showed up when the Mavs needed him most and was a reliable option from downtown in the closeout game.

4. Stud - Dereck Lively II

The Dallas Mavericks were without Dereck Lively II for Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and it put them at a bigger disadvantage than anyone could have imagined. Lively II missed Game 4 with a neck sprain that he suffered in Game 3, and the fact that a rookie is making this big of an impact in the NBA Playoffs is unbelievable.

Lively II's impact on both ends of the floor all playoffs long has been excellent, and he showed just how much he can impact the game in Game 5.

Lively II finished with five points, six rebounds, and one assist in the first half, and he will be a huge piece for Dallas in the NBA Finals.

Lively II's night was thrown off a bit when he was hit in the head by Naz Reid, but he ended up staying in the game. This was a scary play considering what Lively II went through in Game 3, and him being okay was huge for Dallas.

All in all, Lively II finished with nine points, eight rebounds, three assists, and three blocks, and a dunk late capped off his great performance.

Lively II's rim protection and passing out of the short roll will be put to the test against the Boston Celtics, and his defense in space will be much needed in that series. He's improved greatly in that area, and Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis at times will be a big test for him.

3. Stud - Luka Doncic

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic was coming off a good game in Game 4, and after the game, you could tell that he was locked in on getting this series against the Minnesota Timberwolves over with.

He talked about how he had a lack of energy in Game 4, and emphasized that they just needed one more win, and that's all he was focused on going into Game 5. This was obvious right from the opening tip, and Doncic took this game over right away.

In the first quarter alone, Doncic scored 20 points, and he couldn't be stopped. He was hitting deep threes, hitting mid-range jumpers, and leaving his mark on the game immediately. Doncic's 20 points in the first quarter was more than Minnesota's total as a team (19 points), and he was letting everyone know about it too.

Doncic wasn't going to let the Mavs lose this game, and now he'll have the chance to battle Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics. The narratives about who is the better player is are going to be flying, and Doncic has finally been able to show how much of a monster he is in the playoffs due to him finally being healthy.

Doncic's game is rolling right now, and the Celtics are going to be in for a monster series from him. No one is as competitive as Doncic, and his first appearance in the NBA Finals is going to be one for the history books.

Doncic's 36 points in Game 5 on efficient shooting was beautiful to watch, and he was unstoppable.

2. Stud - Daniel Gafford

Before the 2024 NBA trade deadline, the Dallas Mavericks had no depth behind Dereck Lively II at the center position. Any time Lively II missed time, they were forced to use Dwight Powell and despite his importance to the organization, he isn't good enough to play consistent minutes for a playoff team.

Dallas' trade for Daniel Gafford immediately alleviated their need for a backup big man, and he became a fan favorite for Mavs fans immediately. His energy, rim protection, and ability to finish around the rim are loved by Mavs fans, and he was solid in Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Gafford finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, and one block while shooting 3-3 from the field. He had multiple strong finishes around the bucket, shot efficiently from the free-throw line, and was excellent down low when protecting the rim.

His presence down low is something that has gone unnoticed in this series due to him being outplayed by Lively II, but he has been stout when protecting the rim and battling in the paint. He and Lively II form an excellent one-two punch at center, and they'll need to be at their best as they'll be facing a strong Boston Celtics backcourt.

Gafford's strength and tenacity will be needed in the next series, and his anger from the Game 4 loss carried over into Game 5 and helped lead Dallas to an NBA Finals appearance.

1. Stud - Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving's perfect closeout game record ended on Tuesday night, and he played poorly on top of that. He turned the ball over in a crucial part of the game, and he shot 6-18 for just 16 points. The Dallas Mavericks needed more from him in that Game 4, Irving knew that, and he responded in a big way in Game 5.

Irving finished with 36 points, four rebounds, and five assists while shooting 14-27 from the field and 4-10 from downtown, and he and Luka Doncic controlled this game early. Irving was getting to his spots in the mid-range, attacking the rim, and playing at his pace. He was also hitting insanely tough threes, and he seemingly couldn't miss.

Irving had to be better, and just like Doncic, he wasn't going to let the Mavs lose this game. His ability to hit tough shots from anywhere on the floor is unlike anything Mavs fans have ever seen, and he and Doncic are going to be an unbelievable duo in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Irving is returning to hostile territory considering how Boston Celtics fans feel about him, and this is going to be an outstanding series. Irving and Doncic have proved that you can never count them out in any series, and it'll be the same case against the Celtics.

They give the Mavs a chance to win any series, and the city of Dallas will be rocking for the entire series against Boston.

For all the latest on Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and the Dallas Mavericks throughout the 2024 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, stay tuned.