Three days ago, Minnesota was in a state of euphoria, rallying from a 20-point deficit in Game 7 to knock off the defending champs.

Now, the Timberwolves trail the Western Conference Finals 1-0.

Life moves fast in the NBA. Series change and you are asked to do different things stylistically and schematically to match your new opponent.

Minnesota was a little slow to the trigger in its 108-105 loss to Dallas on Wednesday at Target Center.

The Wolves took too long to find their defense against Dallas’ pick-and-roll heavy approach. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving got to the paint at will, and, with the game on the line, Doncic took over in the fourth to guide the Mavericks to victory.

Just like that, Dallas has stolen home court.

Minnesota fell on a night where its two star players — Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards — struggled to get going offensively.

Towns was 6 for 20n from the field. Edwards was 6 for 16, though he did grab 11 boards to go with eight assists. Still, his defense wasn’t as assertive as it was over the first two postseason series. Perhaps the guard was a bit fatigued after the battle with Denver.

But that’s not an allowable excuse at the moment. The page must be flipped. Especially with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.

While the stars struggled, Minnesota’s role players stepped up in a big way. Jaden McDaniels and Kyle Anderson were a combined 10 for 12 from the floor to start the game. McDaniels finished with 24 points on 9 for 15 shooting, burying six triples.

But Dallas will likely take it chances with those guys knocking down outside shots if it means the big guns aren’t firing on all cylinders.

The Mavericks had the opposite, with Doncic and Irving combining for 63 points, while the others struggled to knock down shots.

But, come winning time, it was Doncic who carried the torch. He finished with 15 points, four rebounds and two steals in the final frame alone. Included in that was a tough, contested triple to cut Dallas’ deficit to one in the final five minutes when it looked like Minnesota — who stormed back from eight down earlier in the quarter — was starting to seize control.

Still, Minnesota had a chance late. Trailing by four with two seconds to play, Mike Conley was fouled on a 3-point attempt, meaning he could make the first two free-throws, miss the third intentionally and perhaps the Wolves could make something happen on the glass with their size advantage.

But he missed the second free-throw attempt. It was that kind of night for the Wolves.

Game 2 is Friday at Target Center. The importance of that one is suddenly heightened for Minnesota.