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The Golden State Warriors are back. The franchise has made it quite clear that they mean business and are set to compete for a title once again. Their dominant postseason performance has moved them up to a -155 favorite to win the championship, per FanDuel.
The job is not over as Golden State still must win one more game against the Dallas Mavericks to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals. The franchise's confidence should be high following their 109-100 road victory in Game 3. It was a clinical effort from the franchise on the road. The Warriors shot better than the Mavs from the field, beyond the 3-point arc, and at the free-throw line. They also outrebounded Dallas 47-33. The 14 offensive boards Golden State tallied helped the team a great deal.
While the victory was a complete team success, there were two notable Warriors who stood out in their Game 3 performance.
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Warriors who deserve most credit after Game 3 victory over Mavs
The career revival of Andrew Wiggins in Golden State has been awesome to watch. The former No. 1 overall pick was questioned for his drive, effort, and defensive abilities early on in his career. In his three seasons with Golden State, Wiggins has changed this narrative greatly. His two-way impact has been especially notable, and he even secured his first All-Star appearance this season.
The Kansas product scored 27 points and added 11 rebounds in Game 3. Six of his rebounds came on the offensive end, which led to additional possessions for the team. Wiggins led the Warriors in minutes (40) and was also a team-high +22. Golden State is loaded with weapons, which makes them so difficult to guard. Wiggins was able to capitalize on this in Game 3 and prove why he is a key part of their success. He also spent time guarding Luka Doncic and effectively competed on every possession.
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While his all-around play was impressive, Andrew Wiggins certainly walked away with the moment of the game. The high-flyer posterized Luka Doncic in a way that will be a part of his career-best highlights:
ANDREW WIGGINS POSTERIZES LUKA DONCIC… but an offensive foul was called…
Good or bad call? 🤔pic.twitter.com/J3cQDFzRFI
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 23, 2022
Andrew Wiggins with a poster dunk that will go down as of one of the best dunks in playoff history.
(📸: by Cooper Neill via NBAE Getty Images) pic.twitter.com/qT7Ch91Z81
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 23, 2022
With the dynamic Warriors offense capable of attacking from all areas, Stephen Curry's impact can still somehow be overlooked. The two-time MVP is at the epicenter of everything the Warriors do. He is able to balance creating his own shot and creating for others in a masterful way.
Curry ended with 31 points, 11 assists, and five rebounds in Game 3. The superstar shot 10-of-20 from the field and 5-of-10 on 3-point attempts as he continues to put the Mavs to sleep.
As impressive as his numbers were, Steph Curry's impact goes far beyond this. The gravity he demands opens up everything and the tempo when he is on the floor is noticeably different. The style of Golden State and the play of Steph Curry are a seamless fit, and they may end up with a fourth championship ring as a result.
Curry also deserves a ton of credit for the improvements he has made defensively. This was a notable weak point in his game for many years and something Curry has put a major focus on. The innovative offense of the Warriors oftentimes overshadows the complex defensive schemes of Golden State. This is seen with Curry and throughout the rest of the roster.
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Spirits are certainly high around Golden State right now. The Mavericks' run is close to coming to an end as the Warriors hold the dominant 3-0 series lead. There has never been a team in NBA history to come back from a 3-0 hole, and Golden State has too much firepower to become the first. Look for the Warriors to keep their foot on the gas and officially win the Western Conference sooner rather than later.
