NFL Rivalry on NBA Court? Justin Jefferson Cheers for Timberwolves After Patrick Mahomes Picks Mavericks

Patrick Mahomes vs Justin Jefferson in Mavs vs TimberwolvesPatrick Mahomes (L), Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison (Image Source: Getty Images, X/Timberwolves)
After his Superbowl success, Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes came to support his favorite team, the Dallas Mavericks, in the final stages of the regular season. He was again seen at the courtside to witness Luka Doncic and Co. play in the playoff round 2 series against Oklahoma City.

While the Chiefs quarterback supported his side from home during the series opener against the Timberwolves, Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson took the spotlight. With him was the franchise’s wide receiver, Jordan Addison. The two were pictured together holding a T’Wolves jersey, which was posted on the NBA franchise’s social media accounts.

After the recent controversy surrounding Austin Rivers’ NBA vs. NFL take, the two football stars’ support for their respective teams has started a mini-battle within the big match-up of the Western Conference Finals. The first blood was drawn by Patrick Mahomes as his Mavericks side took an early lead with Wednesday night’s win.

Timberwolves Fall Short in Series Opener Against Mavs

On Wednesday, the Timberwolves welcomed the Mavs for game 1 of the series at the Target Center. Despite taking a lead in the first quarter, the home side failed to capitalize on it and were taken down by the duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The Slovenian guard scored 33 points, followed by Irving’s 30.

Anthony Edwards was far from his inspiring best for the Timberwolves, as he was only limited to 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. Jaden McDaniels led the scoring for the Minnesota side with 24 with Karl-Anthony Towns chipping in 16 points.

The Mavericks’ narrow 105-108 win gave Patrick Mahomes a lot to celebrate, so he sent out a celebratory message on X (formerly known as Twitter).

The two teams will again clash on Friday at the same venue, and the Timberwolves will be wary of going down 2-0 before back-to-back games at Dallas.

Western Conference Finals: Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, PJ Washington Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid Stats in Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Mavericks won Game 1 over the Timberwolves in Western Conference FinalsWestern Conference Finals (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The Dallas Mavericks secured a 108-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals at the Target Center. The dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving played pivotal roles, combining for 63 points to lead the Mavericks to a hard-fought win.

Luka Doncic, Jason Kidd’s hero, was particularly spectacular. Doncic scored seven consecutive points to spark a decisive 13-0 run by the Mavericks. He concluded the game with 33 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. Kyrie Irving also delivered an outstanding performance, contributing 30 points, five rebounds, and four assists. P.J. Washington added to the Mavericks’ effort with 13 points and seven rebounds.

The game was a rollercoaster, with the Mavericks trailing 102-98 following a 3-pointer by Anthony Edwards with nearly 3:00 remaining. Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert struggled to find their rhythm, collectively scoring 47 points while shooting just 16-44 from the field. Their combined efforts fell short against the relentless Mavericks.

Edwards contributed 11 rebounds, eight assists, nine defensive rebounds, and two offensive rebounds. After the game, Edwards offered a candid explanation for their loss.

“We were just a little tired, probably,” Edwards said.

 

Naz Reid provided a bright spot for the Timberwolves, finishing the game with 15 points. Yet, his efforts, along with those of his teammates, were not enough to prevent the Mavericks from seizing victory.

Timberwolves Need Redemption in Game 2 After Mavericks’ Opening Win in Western Conference Finals

The No. 3 seed Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves in an early hole, trailing 1-0 in the Western Conference Finals against the No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks. After a narrow 108-105 loss in Game 1, the Timberwolves are keen to address their shortcomings and bounce back to tie the series before it shifts to Dallas for Games 3 and 4.
Western Conference FinalsWestern Conference Finals (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The Timberwolves have a solid chance to regroup and make the necessary adjustments before facing the Mavericks again. The Timberwolves will aim to leverage their home-court advantage at the Target Center and tie the series before heading to Dallas, while the Mavs’ target will be to continue showing their legacy, like in Game 1.

Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals is scheduled for Friday, May 24, at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time and 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time.