NBA Playoffs: Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks Game 3 Preview, Odds, Prediction

The Dallas Mavericks had everything in their hands in Game 2 of the series against the Golden State Warriors. They were up 19 points in the third period, with Luka playing one of the iconic games, battling with flue, but still demolishing the Dub Nation. In the end, the hosts squeezed out a win, protecting the home-court edge and heading for Dallas with a 2-0 lead in their bag. It is time to see the American Airlines Center now, and the Mavs fans. They were pretty ruthless this year, providing a massive boost for their players,

Preview

Golden State Warriors (+110) allowed 72 points in the first half, and trailed 19 in the third but shifted into a higher gear, blitzing the Mavs and making one hell of a comeback. At first, they would allow only 13 points in the third sequence and then scored 43 in the final 12 minutes, displaying unreal offensive productivity.

Steph Curry led the charge with 32 points, eight boards, and five assists, hitting six threes, some of them in the crucial moments. Jordan Poole had 23 points off the bench, while Klay Thompson had a quiet night with 15 buckets. Andrew Wiggins had 16.

The x-factor for GSW in Game 2 was Kevon Looney with 21 points and 12 boards, hitting 10 of his 14 shots from the field. He was something that the Mavs didn’t count on. In the moments when GSW needed offensive rebounds, Looney was there and he grabbed five boards under the Mavs’ glass.

Dallas Mavericks (-120) made 15 threes from 27 attempts in the first half, and scored 72 points. Luka delivered 24 in the first 24 minutes. He was battling the flu the night before the meeting, but got out on the court and gave his best. In the end, the young superstar scored 42 points, had eight assists and five boards. Yet that wasn’t enough for his team to win.

A vicious collapse in the final 20 minutes was something that this team didn’t experience under Jason Kidd, and probably won’t ever again. Dallas’ strongest weapon, its defense, fell apart and didn’t exist at all.

Jalen Brunson had 31 points with seven boards and five assists, while Reggie Bullock scored 21 points, six threes. One of the biggest reasons for a defeat was the bench, who was again atrocious with only 13 points delivered. In the moments when starters needed a break, the replacements failed to show up.

Head to Head Games

This was the sixth game between these two sides, including the regular season. Both teams have three wins, with the note that GSW posted the last two in the playoffs.

Prediction

Dallas will be more than aggressive in Game 3, simply the circumstances are forcing them to be. Plus, they are always like that at home, which is why we expect a much tougher defense from them, therefore fewer points. That has been the recipe for their success in this year’s playoffs, and if they want to survive, simply there is no other option for them. So to conclude, our pick here is under 218.5 points which is the current over/under line for total.

Pick: Under 218.5 points