There will be a fifth game. The victory of the Mavericks could be the icing on the cake for a season that ends with honors. maybe the last one, unless the Warriors play hard to get and fall at the Chase Center, where they have only not lost a single one in all the playoffs (8-0). One more meeting that is almost like a fair and poetic ending to a historic season for the Texan franchise, which has stood up to a team that has had to put away the broom and have been left without sweep. It wasn’t going to be fair for Jason Kidd’s men to say goodbye like this to a tie that has been the end of a titanic, epic season, in which they have slipped in as unexpectedly as they deserved in a Conference final in which they are the guest of honor with all meritocracy. And, after improving, becoming strong on the rebound, scoring the triples and not giving up attacking the zone, the Mavs have won a victory that makes the series 3-1 and gives them a fantastic prize after the disparate sensations generated after the first three meetings.
Jason Kidd already said his team would live or die on the 3-pointer, but after the Game 3 loss he said the same thing about the rebound. And the players took note: 20 of 43 in triples (46.5%) and 45 rebounds for 42 of his rivals, this time avoiding the myriad of rebounds at his rim that gave the Warriors an almost embarrassing number of second chances in the previous matchup. This time there were 6, less than half of the third round (14). Reggie Bullock forgot his disastrous last performance and went to 6 of 10 in triples, Dorian Finney-Smith played a fantastic game (9 of 13 in field goals and 4 of 7 in triples for 23 points, to which he added 6 rebounds ), Maxi Klebber scored again from the corners and did damage in the zone (13+8, with 5 of 6 shots) and Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie acted as generators in an exceptional way: 15 points, with 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the first; and 10, with 8 assists for the second.
Luka Doncic, who seemed tired at the beginning of the game, played another great game, with good statistical production and calm and temper in the last quarter, when the Mavs, who came to send 29 points, almost messed it up: only 8 up (110-102) with just over 3 minutes to go. Doncic came out of timeout prompted by a cautious Kidd with a dunk and two assists, one for Bullock’s 3-pointer and one for a Finney-Smith basket. And he then scored 2 free throws that sealed the game and elevated another fantastic performance: 30 points (ninth game in which he exceeds thirty in 13 games of these playoffs)14 rebounds (with an incredible ability to maintain his position) and 9 assists, with 2 steals and 2 blocks, just 3 turnovers and a usual inconsistency in shooting (10 of 26, with 3 of 11 in triples), which he compensated with a good selection in the last quarter, in which he scored 9 points with 3 of 5 shots.
The Warriors came to see them coming. They booked Otto Porter, injured in the previous crash, thinking of taking advantage of the trip home to stay there resting before a Finals that statistics say they are going to play: 146-0 when the advantage is 3-0 in the playoffs. It would be the sixth in 8 years, the sixth in a row if we count only the seasons in which they have played the playoffs (they missed them in the last two) and also if we only talk about Klay Thompson, who has spent time in the limbo of problems physical in that period of time. The Warriors, let’s remember, haven’t lost a Western Conference series since 2015, when Steve Kerr led the team in his first season to the first title of one of the greatest dynasties in history. And, let’s remember, they have 26 consecutive qualifiers winning at least one game away from home. Records and more records of a team without parallel in history, absolutely legendary, wonderfully unique. A project that adds, adds and continues to add and has abandoned the revolution from precocity to now be a spiritually led group (sports too) by three more veteran players, an exceptional coach and the ever-present memory of past victories. Words are unnecessary.
Of course, to increase their legend, the Warriors must first win the Mavs and solve as soon as possible a series in which they do not want to return to Dallas, where the Texans forget their fatigue, they grow up in front of their public and believe that everything is possible . Andrew Wiggins was not as good as in the third round (13+5 today), Draymond Green had good minutes (10+6+6), Klay Thompson is still far from his best version, but he contributes at specific moments (12 points) and Stephen Curry lowered the level (20, with 8 assists). These last two came back when the Warriors got to 8 in the last quarter and when it appeared that Kerr was not going to get his starters and began to come back with Kuminga, Moody, Lee, Bjelica and Jordan Poole (14 points, and 6 personal fouls) on court. But there was an attempt at a comeback that would have been historic but that, finally, did not occur. The Warriors have to close and rest to wait for the Celtics or Heat, two teams that are taking a beating, in the Eastern finals. And for that, they will have to overcome the last hurdle, the last rebellion of some Mavericks who have once again done a magnificent survival exercise and who will believe until the end. “I still think we can win“, said Doncic after the match. there is that.