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The Dallas Mavericks had all the momentum on their side heading into the Western Conference Finals. But Luka Doncic and Co. ran into a buzzsaw in Game 1 known to most NBA observers as the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors took control of the ball game in the first quarter and never looked back, leading by as much as 30 points with Dallas only ever owning a two point lead in the 112-87 affair.
But thankfully for Mavs fans, the score resets to 0-0 for Game 2. With a new ballgame comes a potentially new result, one that Dallas hopes would be in their favor this time around. Here are three (3) bold predictions for the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against the Warriors.
3 Mavs predictions for WCF Game 2 vs. Warriors
Luka Doncic goes off for 40 points
The Mavs only go as far as Luka Doncic can take them. For them to be able to even the series and go back to Dallas with a 1-1 split, they're going to need a masterful, nay, magical performance from Luka Magic himself.
The Slovenian superstar looked uncharacteristically human in Game 1. He finished with just 20 points on 6-for-18 shooting while also committing seven turnovers in the contest. His point total, field goals made, shooting percentage, and turnover total were all the worst or tied for the worst for the Mavs star this postseason.
But Luka Doncic is sure to respond in a big way in Game 2 – and it's not just a hunch or an innate belief in the Mavs frontman. His 20 points in Game 1 were the third fewest of his playoff career. He had outings of 13 and 19 points in previous years in first-round clashes against the Los Angeles Clippers. After both those games, he piled on 43 and 42 points, respectively.
An avalanche is likely hitting the Golden State defense on Friday night. It's blonde, stands 6-foot-7, and hails from the Slovenian town of Ljubljana.
Mavs connect on 15 threes
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There was a tell-tale stat that doomed the Mavericks in Game 1. Beyond just the fact that the Luka Doncic wasn't playing up to his usual godlike self, they just were not able to hit their threes. They made just 11 in Game 1, their third-worst total through 14 postseason games thus far.
Of course, the Golden State Warriors deserve a ton of credit for both of those things, with Steve Kerr's crew consistently ranking as an elite defensive team during their best seasons, this one included.
But there's always a ton of variance when it comes to the three-point shot. Teams can take a handful of contested triples and have them fall while conversely a squad can brick nearly every three they take even when left open. Law of averages could potentially smile Dallas' way in Game 2, and if Luka Doncic starts off hot, that opens things up for the Mavs shooters.
Among the 16 teams this postseason, the Mavs rank first in both three-point makes (15.2) and attempts (40.9). They're 7-2 thus far when they hit that 15 triple threshold and look for them to reach it in Game 2.
Mavs win a squeaker
To say that Luka Doncic's off game and the Mavs' rough shooting night from three were by mere circumstance would be a disservice to the Warriors' defense. They played Dallas tight all game and deserved to win Game 1.
However, keeping a talent as dynamic as Luka Doncic down for two consecutive games is a tall task. If Jason Kidd and the Mavs coaching staff figure out a way to free up their frontman, the rest of the game will flow much easier for Dallas. Kidd promised as much at the conclusion of Game 1.
But even with Luka Doncic playing a monster game and the Mavs' supporting cast hitting their threes, it's no guarantee that they run away with the victory. The Warriors have gone 7-0 at home this postseason, winning by an average margin on 16 points in those contests.
If Dallas hopes to steal a win on Golden State's home floor, they'll need to play a near flawless game of basketball. And even then, they're likely going to have to make the big plays down the stretch to snatch away home-court advantage on the way back to Dallas. Fireworks are sure to go off in Warriors-Mavs Game 2.
