It was supposed to be a tight and competitive series, a showdown between two superstars. Instead, the Warriors are one win away from sweeping another Western Conference finals and returning to the NBA Finals.
On Sunday night, the Warriors did as they have always done with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green: win a playoff game on the road. And it was the newest key piece of their core, Andrew Wiggins, who stole the show with his earth-shattering dunk on Luka Dončić — even if it was initially called for a foul.
Wiggins has been sensational in this series and all playoffs long, both making an impact on the offensive end and forcing Dončić to work extremely hard to keep putting up his big point totals and wearing him down by the fourth quarters.
The Mavericks have been getting good scoring from Dončić, Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie, but have been getting abysmal shooting performances from their other role players. Many of the missed shots are open looks, but Golden State’s team defense may be making an impact, too.
And with the chance to earn their sixth trip to the NBA Finals in eight seasons here, there’s also a shot to earn eight days off before Game 1 of those Finals on Thursday, June 2. An entire week to rest, recuperate, recovery and hopefully get Otto Porter Jr., Gary Payton II and Andre Iguodala healthy for either Miami or Boston.
Can Dallas finally see its shots go down for an entire game, to keep their season alive? Will the Warriors continue to get good play from Curry, or get Green playing like himself again? And can the Warriors finish off the sweep and return back to the NBA Finals?
Follow along as reporters Madeline Kenney and Shayna Rubin and columnist Dieter Kurtenbach answer those questions and more.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: Golden State Warriors performers Michelle Musser, left, and Tony Gomez walk around before the start of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: Golden State Warriors fanShaw Killip, of Puitsburgh, carries a broom as he hopes the Warriors sweep the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: Golden State Warriors fans get ready for the start of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: Golden State Warriors fans get ready for the start of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: Golden State Warriors performer Michelle Musser, center, along with fans dance before the start of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: Fans watch the Golden State Warriors compete against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: Fans celebrate a basket by the Golden State Warriors against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: Fans celebrate a basket by the Golden State Warriors against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: Fans watch the Golden State Warriors compete against the Dallas Mavericks in the second half of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: Fans watch the Golden State Warriors compete against the Dallas Mavericks in the second half of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: A fan watch the Golden State Warriors lose to the Dallas Mavericks in the last minutes of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Warriors lost 109-119. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: Fans watch the Golden State Warriors compete against the Dallas Mavericks in the second half of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: Golden State Warriors fan James McCoy, of Berkeley, holds a broom as they celebrate a basket against the Dallas Mavericks in the last minutes of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Warriors lost 109-119. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: Golden State Warriors fan James McCoy, left, of Berkeley, along with fans watch the Warriors lose to the Dallas Mavericks in the last minutes of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Warriors lost 109-119. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: Golden State Warriors fan James McCoy, of Berkeley, along with fans celebrate a basket against the Dallas Mavericks in the last minutes of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Warriors lost 109-119. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: Golden State Warriors fan Rosa Gonzalez reacts to a play as she watches the Warriors lose to the Dallas Mavericks in the last minutes of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Warriors lost 109-119. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: Fans watch the Golden State Warriors lose to the Dallas Mavericks in the last minutes of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Warriors lost 109-119. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: Kids play with a ball as the Golden State Warriors lose to the Dallas Mavericks in the last minutes of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals during a watch party at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Warriors lost 109-119. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Source: www.mercurynews.com
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