Golden State Looks For The Sweep Against Dallas

The Golden State Warriors (49-43-4 ATS) took a commanding lead against the Dallas Mavericks (55-42-1) Sunday night behind a surprising 27 points from Andrew Wiggins. The Mavericks look to bounce back at home and avoid the sweep by getting contributions from role players. This would be the second sweep of the playoffs and an incredibly disappointing ending to the Maverick’s best season since their championship run in 2010-11. 

 

Game 5 will take place in Dallas, Texas at the American Airlines Center on Tuesday, May 24th at 9 EST. 

 

Mavericks Have Trouble Finishing

In Game 2, the Warriors rallied back from trailing 17 at the half. After a third-quarter explosion, Steph Curry and company outscored the Mavericks 68-45 in the second half. Dallas ranks 25th in second half points this season, averaging 52.1 points. Only 4 teams are worse in this category and none of them made the playoffs, and only one team finished over .500.

Dallas will have to close out to force a game 5 and avoid an embarrassing sweep in the Western Conference Finals. MVP candidate Luka Doncic has averagered 29.5 points in close out games in this years playoffs. His most recent slaughter came after delivering 35 points, 6 threes and 10 boards against the Suns. 

Doncic’s 40 points wasn’t enough to seal the win in gam 3 so Dallas will have to get role players such as Reggie Bullock and Maxi Kleber involved early, both of which scored 0 points in game 3. The Mavericks need to improve on hustle stats, such as contested shots, loose ball recoveries and successful screens. The Warriors have contested 14 more shots behind defensive mastermind, Draymond Green. Game 4 should be an all out, dog fight. I’m looking for toughness and tone setting physicality. 

Warriors Player’s Showing Poise 

Golden State is sitting 1 game away from returning to the NBA Finals for the 6th time in 8 seasons. The game 2, 19 point comeback was the 3rd largest comeback in franchise history. Falling to a 20 point comeback against the Pelicans in 2015 and a 25 point comeback against the Spurs in 2017. Even more impressive, this was the 12th comeback of at least 15 points in the playoffs under Steve Kerr since 2014-15. No team has matched that – in the last 25 seasons. 

Veteran leadership from core guys Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have showed younger players to never quit no matter the deficit. Standouts such as Jordan Poole (most improved player canidate) and All-Star Andrew Wiggins have responded with grit and toughness. Both of them tallying over 17 points per game this season. 

I’m looking for Thompson to hagve a breakout game. He’s been averaging a quiet 19.5 points per game and only 3.5 3’s. If Dallas scripts to box and trap Curry, Thompson has all the capabilities of exploding for 30 plus, which fans have seen him do multiple times. 

Will Steve Kerr keep his foot on the gas for game 4, or will he reserve his guys and close the series out at home? I’m sure they have nightmares about loosening the grip after the 2017 blunder in which Golden State gave up the only NBA Finals 3-1 comeback against Lebron and his Caveliers. 

Picks And Predictions For Game 4. 

Currently on the injury report provided by the NBA, Gary Patton II is ruled out after suffering an elbow injurt, and Otto Porter is ruled day-to-day with a foot injury. This should give betters confidence that injuries shouldn’t throw any games. 

 

Dallas is sitting as a favorite with the spread being -1, moneyline at -115. The overunder is sitting at 215.5. This season, Dallas has hit the under in 83% of games, according to ESPN. I’d take it, given a close out game means all out effort on both sides of the ball and incorporating more hustle stats. I’d look for this game to be defensive battle. 

 

Looking for a good parlay? Try this one :

 

Jalen Brunson 4+ assists (currently averaging 3.6) +120

Draymond Green 8 rebounds (currently averaging 7.3) +100

Dorian Finney-Smith over 2.5 3’s (currently averaging 2.5) + 108

Dallas Mavericks with the under -110

 

The 4 leg parlay needs a couple of things to hit, but in a close out game at home, betters can feel good about choosing the Mavericks. This parley will have an impressive +1714 odds. $20 gets you over $356 in winnings. 

 

I can’t see Dallas getting swept on their homecourt. Especially with a guy like Doncic, whose made an immediate impact on the NBA, but also has some incredible experience in playing overseas. The guy was the youngest MVP ever in the EuroLeague – winning the award at just 19 years old. He knows that it takes to win, and Dallas will extend it’s season and series to at least 5 games.