The Golden State Warriors have booked their place in the NBA Finals for the sixth time in eight seasons, the first team to do so since the Michael Jordan Bulls, after beating the Dallas Mavericks 120-110 to seal the Western Conference Finals 4-1.
In a roller coaster game 5, the Warriors led by 21 points at the end of the second quarter and 25 points midway through the third, as Dallas star Luka Doncic only had six points at halftime, failing to score. not at all in the second quarter.
Doncic looked tired and frustrated, arguing with the referees and repeatedly failing to keep track of the defense. But he exploded in the third quarter with 15 points, leading a 15-2 Mavericks load to end the period and reduce the deficit to 10 points entering the final period.
But the Warriors didn’t have to refuse, stopping the comeback and stretching to 16 points at the end of the piece before Dallas waved the white flag and both sides turned to the bench.
Friday, May 27th
Friday, May 27th
The Warriors are now 9-0 at home this postseason and are heading to the finals, as the likely favorites given that their opponents, either the Boston Celtics or the Miami Heat, are trapped in a grueling series that will give them a much shorter break to recover before the championship series.
Watch all of the NBA 2022 conference finals and ESPN finals in Kayo. Are we in Kayo? Try 14 days free now>
Stephen Curry, number 30 in the Golden State Warriors, celebrates after the 120-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks to advance to the NBA Finals. Source: AFP
In a vintage performance, Klay Thompson scored 32 points, including eight triples from 16 attempts. His 19 points in the first half (including five triples in eight attempts) was already more than his total score in the previous four games of this series.
He said: “I’m very happy to be back. I’m very grateful for this team … I don’t want to get excited. I can’t believe we’re back. This is crazy. I’m going to enjoy this tonight, but we still have 4 (wins) more “.
Kevon Looney had a whopping 18 rebounds plus his 10 points.
Steph Curry had a rare night of poor shooting, scoring just 15 points in 5 of 17 field goal attempts (29.4%) and exhausting just 2 of 7 three-point attempts. But his offensive movement and vision saw him accumulate a maximum of 9 assists.
Still, Curry won the first Western Conference Finals MVP award for his remarkably consistent series.
Six Warriors scored twice as many points.
Draymond Green, No. 23 Golden State Warriors, reacts after a basket and a foul on Dorian Finney-Smith. Source: AFP
For the Mavericks, Doncic finished with 28 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, but had a maximum of four balance losses and made only 3 of 13 three-point attempts. Spencer Dinwiddie had 26 points from the bench, including 5 of 7 triples.
Draymond Green said: “This is special, because this is a group that no one thought would ever return here. Klay Thompson is going through two catastrophic injuries. Steph Curry breaks his hand. Two years ago we won 15 games.
“A group of young and experienced boys … But this group kept coming every day and doing work. Our coaching staff has been amazing.
“They were here. We’re back!”
The Warriors led by five points after a quarter, but exploded by 41 points in the second period. But it was Golden State’s defense within the paint that crucially limited Dallas to just 14 points in the first half in that area.
Doncic was also struggling, with just six points at halftime in 2 of 12 field goal attempts, including none of the four triple attempts.
And he was widely criticized for his lack of effort, especially on defense, where on two occasions he failed in tracking and coverage, allowing the Warriors two easy endings.
Still, things changed in the third quarter when Luka Doncic found his form, scoring 15 points alone that season as the Mavericks outscored the locals 32-25 in the third quarter. Dallas ended the period with a 15-2 run to reduce the deficit to 10 points, which would be the same margin on the final whistle.
MORE COVERAGE
The heartbreaking family tragedy behind the NBA coach’s emotional plea
The Celtics on the verge of the NBA Finals after the cold heat burned by a blitz in the second half
Rumor Mill: KD’s silence as the Nets unwittingly confront Kyrie’s dilemma; LA “doesn’t make a beacon” about Russ
Draymond shoots the craziest FT ever | 00:35
LIVE BLOG
Follow all the action on our live blog below. If you can’t see the blog, click here.