Playoff Drama: Mystery Player Hints at Opponent’s High Stakes – Is an Upset Looming?

The Dallas Mavericks can sweep the Minnesota Timberwolves out of the 2024 NBA Playoffs with a win in Game 4 of their Western Conference Finals. No team has ever overcome a 3-0 series deficit, and Kyrie Irving made it clear that the pressure is on the Timberwolves and not the Mavericks heading into Game 4.

“This is their Super Bowl. It’s just a normal game for us.” 

Irving might come to regret those words, as the Timberwolves have been controlling Game 4 so far, though the Mavs have tied the game 49-49 at halftime. Kyrie doesn’t have his shot tonight, putting up six points on 2-8 shooting. Irving is 14-0 in closeout games but that record might be in danger against a feisty Wolves squad.

The Mavericks are without their plus/minus leader Dereck Lively II in this game, with his interior presence being crucial to the Mavs’ success since Round 2. If the Mavericks lose this game, they’ll have to go back to Minnesota in Game 5 and pick up a road win while the Boston Celtics get to rest until June 6.

Irving’s comments might have been a bad decision, as the Mavericks should put pressure on themselves to treat this as a must-win game. If they can get nine days of rest before the Finals to deal with the injuries of Dereck Lively II, Maxi Kleber, and Luka Doncic, they will be a very challenging opponent to take down for the Celtics.

It’s clear that Irving’s comments during the shootaround for Game 4 don’t reflect what he felt after the Mavericks secured their Game 3 win. The 32-year-old guard said the team is approaching the series with a 0-0 mentality even though they were up three games to none.

“It means absolutely nothing right now. That’s not even something I’m thinking about. Going into Game 4, it’s still 0-0, and that’s the type of motivation and mentality we had in that locker room. It’s not just me. We feel like the job isn’t finished.”

Luka Doncic expressed a similar sentiment, trying not to look ahead to the NBA Finals without having finished the Wolves series out.
“I don’t know what to say, but it feels great. We gotta think about the next game. We gotta play with the same mentality. They’re not gonna go away. No way. We need to prepare for the next game and think about the next game.”
Irving has averaged 22.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists through the postseason. He’s been incredible for Dallas, particularly in helping them close out games in the second half. As a result, it’s unfair to dismiss his performances in a game because of a slow first half.
The Mavericks have fought to keep themselves in the game, and a lot of eyes will be on Irving to see if he can deliver in the fourth quarter as he’s expected to do.