Minnesota is a Boogeyman of sorts to Denver. Not only did Minnesota end the Nuggets’ title defense a year ago, the Wolves also swept Denver in four regular-season matchups this year.

So Denver breathed a little sigh of relief when the Los Angeles Clippers edged Golden State in overtime Sunday, meaning the Clippers, not the Wolves, would be the Nuggets’ first-round opponent. Now Denver won’t see its Boogeyman unless the Nuggets and Timberwolves both advance to Western Conference finals.

Minnesota, on the other hand, will see its version on Saturday night in Los Angeles when the Lakers and Wolves meet in Game 1 of their first-round series.

That boogeyman is Luka Doncic.

Minnesota was riding high off its thrilling conference semifinal win over Denver a year ago before it was promptly grounded by the Slovenian star in the West finals. Doncic averaged 32.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists while shooting 43% from 3-point range in the series, which Dallas won in five games.

A Minnesota defense that looked so ferocious throughout last year’s regular season and first two playoff rounds was tamed by one of the league’s top five players. The Timberwolves threw a number of looks at Doncic throughout the series, all to no avail. By the end of the conference finals, Minnesota looked resigned to its fate. The Wolves simply could not beat this man.

Everyone will recall Doncic’s cold-blooded, stepback triple at the end of Game 2 to steal a Dallas victory and put the Mavericks up 2-0. Later, he scored 20 first-quarter points in a decisive Game 5 victory, sending the Wolves into the offseason with their tails tucked between their legs.

After that blowout defeat, Anthony Edwards was asked how the game got away from Minnesota.

“Luka,” Edwards said. “It’s that simple. He hit like three shots from the logo, pretty much. Nothing we can do about it.”

Can the Wolves find a legitimate solution this time around?

Doncic’s dominance over the Wolves extends beyond that. Including the playoffs, he’s 7-1 against Minnesota in his past eight meetings with the Wolves, excluding the Christmas Day game in Dallas that he left early in the second quarter.

The Lakers are more than just Doncic. Obviously, they have an all-time great in LeBron James, and Austin Reaves looks like a future all-star. Dorian Finney-Smith and Rui Hachimura are versatile pieces who help Los Angeles succeed on both ends.

But Los Angeles also has some potential deficiencies on the glass and with its perimeter defense. Minnesota has paths to success in this series. But those will only reveal themselves if the Wolves can prevent Doncic from taking over and controlling each contest in the same ways he did last spring.

Perhaps the experience of last year’s conference finals will better equip Minnesota for this series. There should be no lack of what to expect.

The Wolves also have different personnel options. Jaden McDaniels will likely again receive the opening assignment on Doncic, but Jaylen Clark did a solid job on Doncic when Minnesota lost in Los Angeles in late February, and Julius Randle’s physicality could provide a necessary changeup against the all-star at some point in the series.

Schematically, Minnesota also can approach the Doncic matchup a little differently considering the guard’s new roster with the Lakers doesn’t present the same lob threats that were so plentiful and dangerous in Dallas. Rudy Gobert can be more aggressive in his help on Doncic when the guard enters that 8- to 10-foot range with less concern about what may take place behind him.

“He’s a smart player. He has seen every coverage possible in the world. It’s about how we execute it, how throughout the different coverages we’re able to rebound and, offensively, how we take care of the ball and do all these things that put us in a position to try to slow them down,” Gobert said Sunday. “We’ll see what coaches have in mind. But it’s about, no matter what we do, keep our physicality and keep playing to our strength.”

To do that, Minnesota must enter this first-round playoff series with the proper mindset and a true belief that it can contain Doncic — that a playoff matchup with the majestic maestro isn’t necessarily a death sentence. That history doesn’t always repeat.

That the Boogeyman doesn’t exist.

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, left, celebrates a charging call against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) during the first half in Game 3 of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals, Sunday, May 26, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Related Articles

Timberwolves beat Utah, lock up playoff matchup with Lakers

Anthony Edwards has technical foul rescinded, will play Sunday

Running through the Timberwolves’ potential first-round playoff options

Rudy Gobert ties career high with 35 as Minnesota dismantles Brooklyn

Anthony Edwards picks up 18th technical, could be suspended for Sunday’s finale