DALLAS, TX – The Dallas Mavericks avoid a sweep after defeating the Golden State Warriors in American Airlines Center on Tuesday night. The Warriors lead the series 3-1.
Dallas started off the first quarter hot from beyond the arc. It was completely opposite from what we saw last game. The Mavs finished the quarter with a 28-24 lead and shot 7-of-12 at 58 percent from three.
On the other side, the Warriors were not shooting very well. They were 1-of-7 from three at 16 percent. The reason Dallas only had a four-point lead was because Golden State consistently scores well in the paint while Dallas relies heavily on their three-pointers to carry them through a game.
The three-point streak continued for Dallas in the second quarter. They drained four more and this time around their entire team was contributing to the offense, including the bench players. Last game Doncic, Brunson and Dinwiddie were the only ones that contributed significant points. Tonight the starting five, with the exception of Powell, scored significantly in the first half and 16 points came off the bench.
Mavs took a 62-47 lead into the half. Doncic and Brunson both had 13 points apiece. Dallas shot 47 percent from beyond the arc and from the floor.
The Warriors were not having their best shooting game. They shot 18 percent from beyond the arc, making just 3-of-16. Steph Curry carried the Warriors in the first half with 15 points.
The Mavs opened up the third going on a 10-3 run to extend their lead to 22. Brunson played extremely well in this quarter. He made shots, attacked the basket, and when he didn’t have an open look he kicked it out and got an assist off the play.
Dorian Finney-Smith also had a great quarter. He shot 4-of-4 from beyond the arc and had 17 points with a little more than half of the third quarter left to play.
The Mavs continued to make it rain in American Airlines Center and their lead continued to grow. At the end of the third quarter Spencer Dinwiddie slammed back-to-back three-pointers to give Dallas a 99-70 lead entering the fourth quarter.
What seemed to be a done deal soon turned into a close game after the Warriors out scored Dallas 32-13 in the first nine minutes of the fourth quarter. Golden State came within eight and Dallas had to turn on the jets again because apparently they shut off a little too early. Dallas held them off and took the win at AAC.
Dallas played a solid offensive game the entire 48 minutes and the entire team was hot tonight. Four of the starting five had high double-figures while the bench added another 33 points. They were led by Luka Doncic and Dorian-Finney Smith. Doncic had 30 points and Dorian Finney-Smith had 23 points. The Mavs made 20 three-pointers on the night and shot 46 percent from three.
With this win Dallas avoids a sweep and will head to San Francisco to play Golden State on Thursday at 8 PM. The Warriors currently lead the series 3-1.
TOP PLAYERS:
Luka Doncic had 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Dorian Finney-Smith had 23 points, six rebounds, and two assists.
Reggie Bullock had 18 points, two rebounds, and two assists.
