San Francisco — The Golden State Warriors weren’t going out without a fight.
The Warriors systematically retreated after Dallas Mavericks took a 19-point lead in the first half, supported by a comeback from Luka Doncic. Golden State took the first lead of the game at 11:42, 126-117 wins in Game 2 The final match of the Western Conference held on Friday night at Chase Center.
The Warriors have a 2-0 series lead as the series shifts to Dallas in games 3 and 4. If you hold a 2-0 series lead under head coach Steve Kerr, the Golden State is 14-1. The only defeat was the 2016 NBA Final to Cleveland.
Draymond Green gained technical skills in the first half, flirting many times in the second and then committing a fifth personal foul, leaving 6:01 in the third quarter. He had a long stint on the bench, and Kevon Looney was relieved to make the most of his share.
Looney scored the highest 21 points in his career and achieved 12 rebounds. The Warriors made 34-15 runs with Green on the bench and Looney in the game. The green is back, but eventually fouls the game with 6 points, 6 boards and 5 assists.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors again with 32 points, but the Warriors role players played their part and stepped up as needed.
Jordan Poole continued to break out after the season, pouring 23 points from the bench. In this game, the team shot 50% from distance and 56.1% from the field. Warriors had the best shooting quarter in the last period of the season (15 of 19).
Doncic, who reportedly became ill after Game 1, took revenge. He scored 24 out of 42 points in the first half, but his efforts weren’t enough to keep Mavericks. He was smashed in Game 1, scraped his face from accidental contact with Andrew Wiggins, suffered a persistent injury to his shoulder, and was fighting an inter-game illness.
The Dallas backcoat was the only bright spot Jalen Brunson chipped in with 31 points.
