Amid one of their most memorable playoff runs in franchise history, the Minnesota Timberwolves have taken the NBA by storm.If a first-round sweep of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and the Phoenix Suns didn’t cement Minnesota as a legitimate contender, ousting the defending champion Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of a Western Conference semifinal series certainly did.Led by star guard Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves punched their ticket to the conference finals for the first time since 2004, but this feel-good story has reached its final chapter.Minnesota finds itself up against the Dallas Mavericks, and it has its hands full with one of, if not the, best backcourts in the league in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.And there’s no chance that duo lets Dallas lose this series.Doncic and Irving took over in Game 1, going off for 33 and 30 points, respectively. Doncic also had six rebounds and eight assists on his ledger as the Mavericks escaped Minneapolis with a 108-105 victory.Just two years ago, the Mavericks reached this stage of the postseason, but they were blitzed by the Golden State Warriors and came up three wins short of the Finals.That Dallas team had virtually no experience when it came to making a deep playoff run, as it went into the Western Conference finals on the heels of back-to-back first-round exits following a three-year postseason drought.Sound familiar? It should.Minnesota has followed an identical course, missing the playoffs three years in a row (2019-21), then getting bounced in the first round in each of the past two seasons ahead of a trip to the conference finals. Trippy stuff, right?Point is, Edwards and the Timberwolves aren’t quite ready for a series where the lights are this bright — yet. Their time will come, and it will likely come soon, but a little bit of postseason heartbreak is going to be standing in the way.That probably isn’t what veteran Minnesota guard Mike Conley wants to hear given his agonizing track record in the playoffs, but it’s the truth.It also might be time to stop jumping the gun and acting like Edwards is the second coming of Michael Jordan. Listen, he still very well may be, but we certainly aren’t going to find out here in 2024.Edwards has started to falter as the stakes continue to rise. In Game 7 against the Nuggets and Game 1 against the Mavericks, he has combined for 35 points on 12-of-40 shooting (30 percent).Don’t let those lackluster performances take away from the incredible postseason that Edwards has had, but also don’t turn a blind eye to the fact that maybe the 22-year-old isn’t at a point where he can lead a team to a title.Still, Edwards believes Minnesota controls its destiny.“We came out flat (in Game 1),” Edwards said. “We found our energy, then we went back to being flat. So, I think it was just on us. Everything was on us.”Maybe the Timberwolves do go out and flip a switch in Game 2 to even the series at 1-1. But even then, we’re still calling this Dallas’ series to lose.With Irving, the Mavericks finally have the veteran leadership they needed to get over the hump, and hey, Doncic isn’t a bad go-to option either. Dallas spent its time going through trials and tribulations during the playoffs, and now it’s time for Minnesota to pay its dues.
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Gyasi Zardes inspired Columbus in extra time of a 2-0 victory over Nashville.
The United States international s cutback found Pedro Santos to score the opener for the hosts in the 99th minute.
And, just four minutes later, Zardes sealed the win with a clinical finish in a one-on-one after being played in by Luis Diaz Espinoza.
ANOTHER ONE |
— x Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC)
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Marco Reus will try everything to get Kai Havertz to join Borussia Dortmund.
Following Julian Brandt s switch from Bayer Leverkusen to Signal Iduna Park in the close season, BVB captain Reus has his eye on another of their Bundesliga counterparts prized assets.
Havertz, training this week alongside Reus in preparation for Germany s European Championship qualifier against Netherlands on Friday, enjoyed a breakout campaign last season with 17 goals in 34 Bundesliga appearances.
Asked if he saw Havertz playing for rivals Bayern Munich in the future, Reus told Sport1: I will try everything to guide him to Dortmund.
I don t know how much further the fees will increase and if it could maybe be too much for Dortmund.
But I will try my best just as I di…
Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has officially entered the Guinness World Record book for his haul of 12 assists in the Premier League last season.
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Alexander-Arnold s performances earned him a place in the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Premier League Team of the Year and he has also become a regular at international level for England.
His effectiveness in the final third has drawn most acclaim and his remarkable haul of 12 assists is a new record for a defender in the Premier League, going one better than his team-mate Andy Robertson, who managed 11 in the sa…
Xavi is urging Ousmane Dembele to make an effort after contract negotiations between the Frenchman and Barcelona hit an obstacle.
The 24-year-old has entered the final six months of his contract at the club, meaning he is able to begin talking with other clubs over a free transfer at the end of the season.
Dembele s Barca career has been largely disappointing since joining from Borussia Dortmund for a reported €105million in 2017, with injuries restricting him to just 86 LaLiga appearances from a possible 165.
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Wigan’s owners say they have now paid all their players and non-playing staff their wages for this month, with chairman Talal Al Hammad apologising for the stress the delay had caused.
The Latics’ players were given a day off training earlier this month amid the latest hold-up, with Wigan having not paid players or staff on time on four previous occasions this season.
Those delays resulted in a three-point deduction by the English Football League for breaching an agreement made in January, when the club accepted a suspended penalty.
Club Statement | Wigan Athletic can share the following update regarding wages and funding of the Club.
— Wigan Athletic (@LaticsOfficial)
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Jamie Vardy missed a penalty as Burnley came from behind to beat Leicester City 2-1 at Turf Moor and condemn the Foxes to back-to-back Premier League defeats.
After Chris Wood s instinctive finish against his former side had cancelled out Harvey Barnes contentious opener, Leicester looked set to retake the lead when Ben Mee fouled the Foxes goalscorer with 23 minutes remaining.
Vardy, however, lacked his usual composure from the spot, with Nick Pope making a smart stop down to his left and also denying Leicester s forward in a one-on-one soon after.
Pope s saves paid further dividends in the 79th minute as Ashley Westwood lashed home from the centre of Leicester s box and, despite a late glut of pressure, Brendan Rodgers side could not find a way back.
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The 29-year-old centre-back has been with the Blues since 2017 when he joined on a five-year deal.
Rudiger is yet to extend his contract with Chelsea, with plenty of interest in the Germany international.
TOP STORY – NEWCASTLE AND MAN UTD IN FOR RUDIGER
Newcastle United are ready to compete in the race to sign Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, claims the Telegraph.
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Joachim Low will end his tenure in charge of Die Mannschaft after the Euro 2020 finals, opting to leave rather than see his contract through to the 2022 World Cup.
Flick is seemingly set to return to the Germany fold, having previously served as Low’s assistant between 2006 and 2014, a span that included being crowned world champions in Brazil.
It is clear that I spoke to the DFB. Things always have to be regulated. It s about little things, Flick told the media on Friday ahead of his final game in charge of Bayern.
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Manchester City moved back to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park.
City were seven points behind Liverpool on January 19 but Wednesday s win sees them move level with Jurgen Klopp s Reds, the defending champions taking over at the summit on goal difference.
Aymeric Laporte s second league goal of the season put City ahead in the final moments of the first half, Everton giving the defender the freedom of the penalty area to head past Jordan Pickford.
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HEAD BOY!
0-1
— Manchester City (@ManCit…
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