DALLAS, TX – The Dallas Mavericks lost their third straight game to the Golden State Warriors 109-100. The Warriors lead the series now at 3-0.
Dallas started the game off slow, they were out scored in the first quarter 25-22 and they were led by yours truly, Luka Doncic with 10 points.
Both teams were slow to convert on the three-point line, Dallas went 3-of-14 and Golden State went 2-of-9. The Mavs were trailing by seven before hitting some shots late to end the quarter, including a buzzer beater half court shot from Doncic to give Dallas only a three-point deficit entering the second quarter.
Dallas started the second quarter with momentum on their side and took the lead for the first time in the game. They led 26-25 with 10:30 left in the first half. Dallas continued their solid play and gained a seven point lead and the Warriors started to get frustrated. Draymond Green got called for the technical and in return Dallas got free throws and the ball back. That gave the Mavs great momentum and Dallas answered taking a 41-33 lead with four minutes remaining in the first half.
In the final three minutes of the game the Warriors crawled back taking a one point lead with .30 seconds left in the half.
Dallas headed into the locker room down 48-47. The Mavs forced seven turnovers in the first half but only managed to convert that into four points. Dallas shot 7-of-13 from inside the paint and 6-of-25 from beyond the arc.
At the half Doncic and Brunson combined for some 27 of the Mav’s 47 points and no other player other than Dinwiddie with 11 points had more than six points entering the half.
The Warriors opened up the third quarter going on a 7-1 run and it forced Head Coach Jason Kidd to call a timeout. Dallas became sloppy in the third quarter giving up the ball on more occasions than they normally do.
Dallas got out scored 30-21 in the third quarter to go down 10 entering the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter was nothing new from the rest of the game. Dallas continued to shoot endless three-pointers that they were not making and couldn’t get past the Warriors ability to make shots. Dallas shot 13-of-45 at 28 percent from the floor from beyond the arc.
Head Coach Jason Kidd told us after the game, “WE are getting good looks, they just aren’t falling.”
Kidd told us that they can not live and die by the three-pointers and that they are also dying by the rebound game right now.
Both teams were not shooting well from the three-point line tonight. The difference was the Warriors acknowledged it and started driving to the basket and creating fouls. Golden State had more free-throw attempts due to more penetration in the paint. The Warriors also had more points in the paint because of that as well. Dallas is a good three-pointing team, but there’s going to be nights that the ball just doesn’t fall. When that happens the Mavs have to be able to read that better and try something else instead of continuously shooting the three ball that we know, on an off night, most likely won’t go in.
Another big issue for Dallas was their presence under the basket. They got out rebounded in this game 47-33 and that really helped the Warriors solidify this game.
Dallas will have to win in American Airlines Center on Tuesday night to avoid a sweep. The Golden State Warriors lead the series 3-0. Tip off is set for 8 PM in Dallas on Tuesday.
KEY PLAYERS:
Luka Doncic finished with 40 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists.
Jalen Brunson finished with 20 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
Spencer Dinwiddie had 26 points, two rebounds, and one assist.
