What was given is over. At least, that’s what the stats tell us: of 146 times there has been a 3-0 playoff tie, 146 times the team that had that advantage has prevailed. Nobody, ever, has been able to turn around a tie of such dimensions, of such caliber, in the history of the NBA. And it doesn’t look like it will happen this year, with the Mavericks tired and a foot and a half out of the Finals after a historic season from the point of view of the franchise and the project. The Warriors know it all, they are not (far from it) the Suns, they have an innate ability to solve extreme situations and also to manage important advantagesdestroy the rival by exploiting their flaws and move forward, always move forwardchanging situations, making substitutions and with the fundamental pillar of the memories of victory in a series of illustrious minds, who accompany players as legendary as they are clairvoyant when it comes to doing what they do best: gain.
If all goes well, the Warriors can fix the series on the fast track (Tuesday-Wednesday night) or back to the Chase Center if the Mavericks’ honor allows them to prevail and stay alive for at least a few more hours, in a situation that will be similar to the one the Nuggets experienced in the first round, of course, against the Warriors. The Texans are tired, almost exhausted, they have arrived with 13 games played (of a possible 14) to their first West finals since 2011 and they already have 16. They had it in the second game, when they managed to send 19 points, but they couldn’t hold the advantage. And they have had it, to a lesser extent, in a game in which they have been condemned again by the rebound, the exit from the break and the inexperiencein addition to the collapse of Reggie Bullock and the missing Maxi Klebber in the triple: 0 for 12 combined.
The Warriors started off flying, they didn’t give in to environmental pressure or the eternally standing bench of the Mavs (who received a new fine after the second round). Nor to the white shirt of Tim Hardaway Jr., who refused to wear another one due to the referee’s request before the duel but this time he did not confuse Steve Kerr’s players: 9-19 from the start, but the Mavs recovered thanks to a triple that Doncic hit at the buzzer (22-25 ). The Mavs threatened to leave in the second period (39-31), but without the conviction or faith of the series against the Suns. The legs are increasingly tired, the ability to escape against a team of such great importance due to history and names is complicated and the result adjusted to the break (47-48), was again favorable to the Warriors in the third period: 21-30 for a 68-78 that left things open, but for which the Mavs no longer had a reaction. In total, +31 for the Warriors in the third quarters of the three games, with leads of 10, 12 and 9 points respectively.
The Mavericks’ attempts to get closer were futile. Jason Kidd entrusted himself to a quintet without pivots, with Spencer Dinwiddie (great game with 26 points), Jalen Brunson (20+5+3), Dorian Finney-Smith (9), Reggie Bullock (0 of 10 in shots and 0 of 7 in triples) and Luka Doncic. Things didn’t work out that way despite the fact that Kerr gave in and sat down an immeasurable Kevon Looney, a starter since Draymond and Curry proposed that option from the sixth game of the series against the Grizzlies: 9 + 12 + 4. The Warriors lengthened possessions, were accurate in their resolutions, did not fail from the personal (22 of 25) and put an end to the attempts of rebellion of the Mavs, who came alive until the last minute thanks to a triple from Dinwiddie’s corner that it sowed certain doubts (99-104). It was just a mirage: triple by Jordan Poole (which ended with 10 points and 5 rebounds) and a final 100-109 that made it 3-0 and left the Mavericks shivering and on the verge of elimination after adding their second loss at home in all the playoffs, the first with Luka Doncic, who was not in the first against the Jazz in the first round.
The win allows the Warriors to boast 26 straight playoff rounds by winning at least one game away from home and brings Steve Kerr closer to another milestone: not losing a Western Conference round since taking over the team in 2014. almost nothing. Stephen Curry put on a stellar performance (31+5+11)Draymond again added a new technique (the third in the playoffs, leader along with the already eliminated Chris Paul in this aspect) but calmed down later (10+5+5), Klay shot poorly, but produced well (19 points in 18 shots) and Andrew Wiggins had the game of his life in the final phase: 27 points, 11 rebounds (first 20+10 of his career in the playoffs), 3 assists, 6 offensive rebounds (14 from the Warriors, who martyred the Mavs on second chances) 3 assists, a dunk for the annals on Doncic and a +22 with him on track. The Texans could do nothing, also surpassed in assists (28 to 18) and without answers at the end despite the meritorious effort of Luka Doncic: 40 points (21 in the last quarter) and 11 rebounds. The Slovenian just it doesn’t give for more. On Wednesday, the Mavs will try to stay alive and the Warriors reach the sixth Finals of their incontestable dynasty. One more chapter in some extraordinary years. Now it only remains to be seen when the end of the Mavericks will come. That, in one way or another, have curdled an incredible season. And that, it ends as this ends, It is a truth like a temple.
