Slated for a pivotal Game 4 showdown in Dallas, the Mavericks are hanging by a thread after falling behind 3-0 to the Warriors. In Game 3 of their Western Conference Finals matchup with Golden State on Sunday, Dallas tried their best to stay within arm’s length of the Warriors at home, but alas, it was not to be. Thanks to 31 points from future Hall of Famer Steph Curry, Golden State downed the Mavs, 109-100, and Dallas now faces a potential elimination contest in Game 4. Though superstar guard Luka Doncic had a spectacular evening for Dallas (40 points on 11-for-23 shooting), he was unable to keep his team afloat and now must lead his squad out of this series hole.
Below, SBS will go over what to look for from each team heading into Game 4 Tuesday night and if the Warriors can put away the Mavericks on the road.
Led by another balanced team effort, Golden State seems to have Dallas figured out. Though the Warriors and Mavericks were almost deadlocked heading into halftime, 48-47 in favor of Golden State, the resilient Dubs were able to blow past the Mavs in the third quarter. In addition to Curry’s 31-point outburst, the Warriors also received a tremendous performance from veteran small forward Andrew Wiggins. The former No. 1 overall pick out of Kansas notched 27 points in the contest along with 11 rebounds (tied for most among all players). A dark horse contender to win the NBA Finals MVP, Wiggins has become a key piece that compliments the superstar trio of Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
Speaking of the fantastic trio, both Thompson and Green had another solid evening in the plus-minus column. The former was +13 when he was on the floor for the Warriors, but will have to shore up some sporadic shooting if Golden State wants to sweep Dallas (he only shot 33 percent from the field). This is juxtaposed with Green who had an efficient night (10 points, five assists, and five rebounds) to go along with his +19 efficiency rating while on the floor. One thing to keep an eye on is the absence of reserve forward Otto Porter Jr. The veteran left the contest on Sunday with a lower-body injury and is usually a key reserve to spell the talented but aging Warriors. That said, sinewy shooting guard Jordan Poole (10 points in Game 3) should bounce back and have a bigger night on Tuesday.
As mentioned above, Doncic was again the focal point for Dallas in Game 3. Though he led all scorers with 40 points, the young superstar was unable to lift his team on his shoulders alone. However, he did get some consistent help from his backcourt counterparts, Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie. The former was able to accrue 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting while Dinwiddie put together a superb 26 points off the bench. While the Dallas backcourt was impressive, even outdueling the hot-handed Warriors at times, it was again their frontcourt who fell flat.
With three Mavericks players notching more than 20 points apiece, no member of the Dallas crew of big men were able to crack into double digits. While power forward Dorian Finney-Smith was closest with nine points (along with a team-leading four rebounds), this is again the weak spot of the Mavericks roster. Their lack of scoring, along with getting outclassed on the glass by the Warriors, 47 to 33, were two key areas where the Mavs fell short. However, if they are able to shore up these two areas, then Dallas can compete with the Warriors in Game 4 and find a way to win at home. The Mavericks notched a record of 29-12 at home this season and are much more formidable when they are in the comforts of the American Airlines Center.
Prediction: While the Warriors have clearly had the momentum in their favor this whole series, the Mavericks will not go down without a fight. Dallas should be able to win straight-up (moneyline) here.
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About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football in the Mountain West Conference, and basketball. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones.
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