The Golden State Warriors secured a 2-0 lead in the West Finals with a monster comeback. Although Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks dominate the first half, the Warriors turn up the heat and win 126: 117. In the end, the strong Doncic is not enough for Mavs.
Golden State was 19 points behind after a Mavs hat-trick in the first half, but that was not a deciding factor. The home team turned the match around after the break while the Mavs fell apart. The second half went to the Warriors with 68:45.
The best scorer of the dubs was Stephen Curry, who scored 32 points (6/10 threes, plus 8 rebounds and 5 assists) and the last punch against the Mavs defense. Above all, Kevon Looney’s performance was outstanding, with 21 points and 12 rebounds (10/14 FG, 5 offensive rebounds) he dominated the zone. Jordan Poole also contributed 23 points from the bench, Klay Thompson had 15 and Andrew Wiggins had 16 points.
The crown on the match’s top scorer was Luka Doncic, who led his mavs with 42 points (12/23 FG and 5/10 triple) and 8 assists. Jalen Brunson (31, 5/7 threes) and Reggie Bullock (21, 6/10) also provided strong support. Nevertheless, the offense had huge problems after the switch and could no longer prevent the Warriors’ comeback. Maxi Kleber got only 3 points (1/5 three) at -20 in 33 minutes.
Both coaches relied on the same start-5 as in Match 1, but Doncic had been ill for the last few days due to illness. However, there was nothing to see on the pitch, a fadeaway and a stepback-three by the Slovenian opened the scoring. After just two minutes and Brunson’s next open try, Warriors coach Steve Kerr saw a need for discussion.
Warriors turn game 2 – Mavs completely collapses
That did not change the fact that Dallas and especially Doncic started the match red-hot. A Bullock triple, the Mavs’ fifth, gilded a 13-0 run, and Golden State provided several turnovers. The Mavs lead grew to 16 points before Curry blasted his team back into the match. Doncic ended the 13-0 run with a thump, but Dallas now cooled off. Thanks to 18 Luka counters, the visitors still entered the second quarter with 32:25.
The ball losses increased on both sides, but the shooting was back for Dallas. After a triple from Davis Bertans, Damion beat Lee, resulting in a double technician. Even with Doncic on the bench, the Mavs were the better team Dallas led by 19 points, then Kleber also cleared Wiggins. Several fouls took the game out of the stream, but Mav’s three-pointers continued to fall. Curry fired another late run, to which Doncic responded with a deep triple to 72:58 at the break.
Dallas started the second half cold before Kleber finally got his first three in the night’s pocket in the fifth attempt. Draymond Green (6 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) admitted his fifth foul in the middle of the third quarter. Mavs now had several issues with the home team’s zone defense or box-and-one. On the other hand, Looney shone, Golden State crawled back with a 16: 6 run, at the end of the third quarter it was only 85:83 to Dallas.
A corner kick by Otto Porter Jr. to start last period, Golden State gave their first lead. Looney continued to dominate the zone, with Downtown Poole finally blowing up the Chase Center (+5). Even Green, who came back after a long break, lowered a three, Curry increased the lead to 9 points about 5 minutes from the end, and Thompson also participated in the fun from downtown.
The Mavs attack now only ran through Doncic, who kept his colors within striking distance with several stepback threes. However, the guests get no stop. Downtown Curry made a minute before the end the lid on the ground. Golden State enters Dallas with a 2-0 lead in Game 3 Monday night.
The most important statistic
Golden State Warriors (3) – Dallas Mavericks (4) 126: 117 (BOXSCORE), Series: 2-0
- It was a difference like day and night: In match 1 there were almost no three for Mavs, now the guests started the match red hot. Finney-Smith (3/4), Bullock (4/5), Brunson (4/5) and Doncic (3/5) were definitely on fire in the first half – but that was not the case for the bench (1/8). Nevertheless, it was enough for 15/27 threes before the break (53.8 percent) – a franchise record.
- In the first 24 minutes of the game, Dallas had only 15 points less than in the entire game, but the offense then lost its rhythm. In the third quarter, the visitors scored only 26.3 percent from the field, and the three did not fall either (2/13). Mavs finished at 21/45 from long range (46.7 percent), so they were down at 6/18 after the break.
- The Warriors had significantly fewer threes (14/28), but they had a huge advantage in points in the zone (62:30). Looney played a huge role in it and posed a constant threat under the basket with his work on the offensive board and as a roll man. In the third quarter, he was one of the main reasons for the Warriors comeback.
- Turnover vulnerability has haunted the Warriors all season and has been a particular concern in the Grizzlies series. Even in the early minutes, Golden State made way too many bad passes, for example to the cutting teammate. However, the home team got hold of this regard, after 11 ball losses in the first half, only 5 were added in the further course of the game (total 16:12 turnover).
NBA Playoffs – Warriors vs. Mavs: The Voices
Luka Doncic (Mavs): “We were up 19 points, it’s tough. But we can’t look back. Our defense needs to improve a lot.”
Jason Kidd (Mavs Coach): “You live by the three-pointer, or you die by the three-pointer. We died by the three-pointer in the third quarter. But it’s basketball. We played against one of the best teams in the league. It happens.”
Steve Kerr (Warriors coach): “We needed more confidence and control over the game. That was us [in der Halbzeitpause] convinced they would not hit another 15 threes in the second half. “
Game star: Kevon Looney
The best game of his career – of all things in match 2 of the West Finals. Looney’s presence under the basket never got Mavs under control, and he also did his defensive again. Mavs’ attack on him turned into nothing. Meanwhile, he even received “MVP” chants from the fans. He has never scored more than 20 points at NBA level, including in the preseason, summer league or G-League.
Game flop: Spencer Dinwiddie
Most recently, the 29-year-old showed strong performance as a bench scorer, but there was no sign of that in match 2. He finished the game with only 4 points on 2/6 from the field, passed straight open threes and had the most turnovers of any Maverick (4) . Overall, the bank duel went to the Dubs with 36:13, Kleber also had a bad day, also defensively.
Game scene
The Warriors threatened to take momentum into the locker room towards the end of the first half, Curry had reduced the deficit tremendously and the Chase Center was suddenly alive again. Until Doncic quickly got going again. His icy pullup triangle almost outside the logo he sent a clear message to Warriors fans: Do not get too excited, dear people! Well, things went differently …
Warriors vs Mavs: The Series at a Glance (2-0)
| Game | date | time | home | gone | result |
| 1 | May 19 | 3 o’clock | Golden State Warriors | Dallas Mavericks | 112: 87 |
| 2 | 21 May | 3 o’clock | Golden State Warriors | Dallas Mavericks | 126: 117 |
| 3 | May 23 | 3 o’clock | Dallas Mavericks | Golden State Warriors | – |
| 4 | May 25 | 3 o’clock | Dallas Mavericks | Golden State Warriors | – |
| 5 * | May 27 | 3 o’clock | Golden State Warriors | Dallas Mavericks | – |
| 6 * | May 29 | 3 o’clock | Dallas Mavericks | Golden State Warriors | – |
| 7 * | May 31 | 2 o’clock | Golden State Warriors | Golden State Warriors | – |
* If necessary