Warriors vs. Mavericks score, takeaways: Golden State overcomes 19-point deficit to comfortably beat Dallas

If you happen to watched the primary 24 minutes of Recreation 2 between the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks on Friday evening however turned the sport off at halftime, you’d in all probability be fairly shocked to be taught that the Warriors ended up profitable, 126-117. The Mavericks led the sport 72-58 at halftime, they usually gave the impression to be in command of the competition. Nonetheless, the sport did a whole 180 within the second half.  

Golden State outscored Dallas by 12 within the third quarter, after which they outpaced the Mavs by 11 within the ultimate body to safe the victory. With the win, the Warriors took a 2-0 lead within the sequence, which can now shift to Dallas for Video games 3 and 4.

Luka Doncic did every thing that he may for Dallas, as he led the sport in each factors (42) and assists (eight), however finally his manufacturing wasn’t sufficient. Steph Curry led the best way for the Warriors with 32 factors and 5 assists, and Kevon Looney added a career-high 21 factors to go together with 12 rebounds. 

The loss must be a deflating one for Dallas, particularly after how properly they performed within the first half. Plus, no group needs to fall behind by two video games in a playoff sequence. Now, they will have to determine a option to bounce again at dwelling. Earlier than shifting forward within the sequence, although, here is a have a look at three key takeaways from Golden State’s Recreation 2 win. 

1. Golden State dominated the paint 

Dallas’ lack of a authentic paint presence, or two, actually ended up hurting them on this sport. The Warriors had been constantly capable of get into the paint, and as soon as there they confronted little to no resistance on the rim. You noticed this again and again within the second half. Over the course of the competition, the Warriors tried 16 pictures on the rim, and transformed 14 of them, per Cleansing the Glass. That is 87.5 p.c. On the opposite aspect, the Mavericks did not convert a single shot on the rim.   

Total, Dallas was outscored by 32 factors within the paint (62-30) they usually had been outrebounded 43-30. The differential in factors within the paint was monumental, and a significant factor in Recreation 2. 

2. Dallas’ backcourt got here to play 

If there was a vivid spot for Dallas in Recreation 2, it was the play of their beginning backcourt. In Recreation 1, Doncic and Jalen Brunson mixed for simply 34 factors and eight assists. On Friday evening, that duo blew these numbers out of the water. Doncic alone scored 40 and had eight assists, and Brunson added 31 and 5 assists of his personal. For people who do not get pleasure from math, that is a mixed 71 factors and 12 assists — stellar manufacturing. 

Sadly for Dallas, that duo did not get a lot assist from the remainder of the roster, save for Reggie Bullock who had 21 factors. The duo of Doncic and Brunson can solely accomplish that a lot heavy lifting for the Mavs on the offensive finish, so they will want extra from guys like Spencer Dinwiddie (4 factors in 22 minutes) and Maxi Kleber (three factors in 33 minutes) shifting ahead within the sequence. 

3. The comeback children 

You may by no means rely the Warriors out of a sport. Even when the Mavericks took a big lead into the halftime locker room, the competition nonetheless felt removed from over, and that proved to be the case. After being down by as many as 19 within the first half, the Warriors stormed all the best way again within the second half to assert the win.

It was the twelfth time that the Warriors have come again from a deficit of 15 or bigger within the playoffs to win the sport since Steve Kerr took over as head coach previous to the 2014-15 season. That is the best quantity for any group within the final 25 seasons, per ESPN. That stat is a testomony to teach Kerr, and the blokes he has within the locker room. Even when issues do not go their approach early on, they do not panic. As a substitute they keep heading in the right direction and belief that the ball will begin to bounce their approach, and sometimes it does.