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  • Mike Conley hits four 3-pointers, scores 16 points
    Mike Conley amassed 16 points (6-of-11 FGs), one rebound, four assists, one steal, and four 3-pointers in 31 minutes in Sunday’s Game 3 loss to the Mavericks.

    Advice: Due to a strained soleus muscle, Conley is playing at less than full strength. However, give the veteran point guard credit for pushing through the injury, as he had another efficient performance in Game 3. The issue is that the Timberwolves don’t have a good matchup for Conley on the defensive end of the floor. The calf injury keeps him from being effective in guarding Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving, and forwards Derrick Jones Jr. and PJ Washington are too big. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (3/2/3 with one 3-pointer in 20 minutes) and Kyle Anderson (10 points, three assists, and two blocks in 17 minutes) may have to do a little more in Game 4 on Tuesday, but it won’t matter if the Timberwolves don’t get better play from Karl-Anthony Towns. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:20 pm
     
  • Karl-Anthony Towns’ struggles continue in Game 3
    Karl-Anthony Towns shot 5-of-18 from the field and 4-of-5 from the foul line in Sunday’s 116-107 loss to the Mavericks, accumulating 14 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists in 38 minutes.

    Advice: Towns is mired in a brutal slump at the worst possible time. With Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki in attendance, the self-proclaimed “best shooting big man of all time” missed all eight of his 3-point attempts in Game 3. And Towns is just 4-of-32 from beyond the arc over his last five games. Even with Jaden McDaniels (15/1/0/1 with three 3-pointers) and Mike Conley shooting the ball well, Minnesota’s two stars (KAT and Anthony Edwards) have been thoroughly outplayed by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. As a result, Minnesota heads into Game 4 on Tuesday needing a win to keep its season alive. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:13 pm
     
  • Anthony Edwards records 26/9/9/2 line on Sunday
    Anthony Edwards played 43 minutes in Sunday’s 116-107 loss to the Mavericks, accumulating 26 points (11-of-24 FGs, 4-of-6 FTs), nine rebounds, nine assists, and two steals.

    Advice: Edwards gave Minnesota a much-needed spark during the third quarter, shooting 5-of-10 from the field and scoring ten points. However, he went quiet in the fourth, only attempting three shots (making two) and appearing tired on both ends of the floor. With Karl-Anthony Towns struggling, Edwards shouldered an even heavier workload than usual. With Dallas having Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to call on, that’s a losing proposition for Minnesota. The Timberwolves will look to extend the series with a win on Tuesday night. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:09 pm
     
  • PJ Washington scores 16 in Game 3 comeback win
    PJ Washington finished Sunday’s win over Minnesota with 16 points (5-of-10 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), eight rebounds, two assists, and two 3-pointers in 40 minutes.

    Advice: Washington hasn’t been as prolific offensively as he was in the first four games of the Western Conference Semifinals, but he has remained a critical supplementary option. After missing all four of his 3-point attempts in Game 2, the former Hornet hit two in Game 3, including a crucial corner three with 3:38 remaining that gave Dallas the lead for good. Both of Dallas’ trade deadline additions have been huge for them, turning the team into a genuine title contender. Daniel Gafford added five points, three rebounds, one assist, and three blocks in 29 minutes. Dallas will look to close out Minnesota on Tuesday. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:00 pm
     
  • Kyrie Irving scores 33 points in Game 3 triumph
    Kyrie Irving played 42 minutes in Sunday’s 116-107 win over Minnesota, tallying 33 points (12-of-20 FGs, 6-of-8 FTs), three rebounds, four assists, one steal, and three 3-pointers.

    Advice: Dallas has the proven “closers” in this series, while Minnesota doesn’t. Irving scored 14 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter, combining with Luka Doncic to lead the Mavericks to a 3-0 series lead. Teams that have won the first three games of a best-of-7 series are 154-0 all-time, so it may be a matter of “when” the Mavericks reach the finals for the first time since 2011 instead of “if.” Also, Irving is 14-0 in his NBA postseason career in close-out games. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:50 pm
     
  • Luka Doncic posts 33/7/5/5/1 line in Game 3 win
    Luka Doncic shot 10-of-20 from the field and 8-of-10 from the foul line in Sunday’s 116-107 win over the Timberwolves, scoring 33 points with seven rebounds, five assists, five steals, one block, and five 3-pointers in 41 minutes.

    Advice: Even with Doncic playing through ankle and knee injuries, the Timberwolves do not have an answer for him defensively. The All-NBA guard shot 50% from the field in Game 3, helping to lead the Mavericks on a 13-3 run in “closing time.” The tandem of Doncic and Kyrie Irving gives Dallas arguably the two best closers in the league, while Minnesota has no such option to rely on. The Mavericks will look to end the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday, and doing so would give Doncic (and Dereck Lively II) some much-needed time off before the NBA Finals. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:43 pm
     
  • Dereck Lively II (neck) will not return on Sunday
    Dereck Lively II (neck sprain) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday’s game against the Timberwolves.

    Advice: Lively has been out since the second quarter when he took an inadvertent Karl-Anthony Towns knee to the back of the head. The rookie center was initially considered questionable to return, but he has since been downgraded to out. Dwight Powell played a few rotation minutes with Lively sidelined, but starter Daniel Gafford has absorbed most of the available minutes. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:18 pm
     
  • Won't return to game
    Lively (neck) has been ruled out for the remainder of Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against Minnesota on Sunday.

    Advice: Lively sustained a neck sprain in the second quarter of Sunday's matchup after taking a knee to the back of the head, and he'll be unavailable down the stretch. Prior to his departure, he recorded six points (3-3 FG), three rebounds, two assists and a block in nine minutes. Whether he'll be available for Tuesday's Game 4 remains to be seen. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:54 pm
     
  • Deemed questionable to return
    Lively is questionable to return to Sunday's Game 3 matchup against the Timberwolves due to a neck sprain, Mike Curtis of The Detroit News reports.

    Advice: Lively was noticeably shaken up after taking a knee to the head and has been diagnosed with a neck sprain following initial testing. Dwight Powell will likely pick up minutes at the five if Lively is unable to return. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:33 pm