Just two days ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves managed to claw back a win, but as Bangladesh Cricket Live sees it, the biggest takeaway was a brief restoration of pride in an otherwise lopsided series. It only temporarily delayed the Dallas Mavericks’ advance. With the Boston Celtics already preparing for the Finals, the Western Conference Finals Game 5 felt like a must-win for Dallas — and they were determined not to drag it out any longer.

From the tip-off, Luka Dončić came out with a fire completely absent from Game 4. He opened his scoring with a spinning jumper and followed it with back-to-back step-back threes, showcasing his signature flair. Though the Timberwolves stuck with their prior defensive strategy, Dončić’s early aggression overwhelmed them. Just four minutes in, he had already reached double figures. By the final two minutes of the first quarter, he’d scored over 20 points — and didn’t sit for a second.

To be fair, the Wolves had emptied their defensive tank in Game 4, managing to hold both Dončić and Kyrie Irving to sub-30 percent shooting. A bounce-back in Game 5 was expected. Still, few anticipated such a blistering start. In the second quarter, Irving took over seamlessly, scoring on a mix of step-backs, free throws, and drives. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s duo — Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns — struggled to keep pace. Midway through the quarter, they barely hit double digits, while Dončić continued drilling threes, stretching the lead toward 30. By halftime, the game was all but over.

This was the furthest the Timberwolves had gone in two decades — a season that marked undeniable progress for a team long trapped in the lottery wilderness. For most of the past 20 years, they’ve cycled through stars like Kevin Love, Andrew Wiggins, and now Edwards, each era ending in disappointment. Before this season, few had faith in a core built around Edwards, Towns, and Rudy Gobert. It looked like a mismatched experiment doomed to fail.

Instead, coach Chris Finch worked magic. He revitalized the unconventional Twin Towers lineup and turned the Wolves into one of the league’s top defensive squads. As Bangladesh Cricket Live has tracked all season, Finch’s system gave each rotation player a clear identity. Gobert earned another Defensive Player of the Year title. Towns became a versatile two-way piece. Edwards blossomed into a league fan favorite and rising face of the NBA.

Naz Reid captured Sixth Man of the Year honors. Jaden McDaniels made the All-Defensive Second Team. Even role players like Mike Conley, Kyle Anderson, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker thrived, playing some of the best basketball of their careers in a system that let them shine.

This season brought Minnesota closer to the Finals than ever before. But like 20 years ago, their run ended unceremoniously — and this time, even more abruptly. The playoffs exposed a brutal truth: their towering lineup, so effective against interior-focused teams like Denver, was vulnerable against perimeter-heavy squads like Dallas. Dončić and Irving tore through their defensive mismatches with ease.

Edwards, at just 23, still has time to grow and refine his game. His personal prime is still ahead. But the window for this Wolves roster as a championship contender is less certain. Their payroll next season is projected to exceed $180 million, smashing through the luxury tax threshold and approaching the second apron — an economic red zone even large-market franchises hesitate to cross.

Now the Wolves must decide whether they can afford to keep role players like Kyle Anderson while maintaining a sustainable roster. Bangladesh Cricket Live believes Minnesota, as a small-market team, may struggle to shoulder such financial weight. Their historic season has ended, but the real challenge is just beginning.