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The Golden State Warriors will look to take a commanding 3-0 over the Dallas Mavericks in the 2022 NBA Western Conference Finals. Ahead of Sunday night’s game, we’ll be making out Warriors Game 3 bold predictions.
Golden State stormed back from a 19-point second-quarter deficit to defeat the Mavericks 126-117 in Game 2. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 32 points, eight rebounds, five assists and six three-pointers. Kevon Looney had the game of his life, scoring a career-high 21 points to go along with 12 rebounds. Jordan Poole tallied 23 points and five assists off the bench. Andrew Wiggins gave the Dubs another stellar all-around performance with 16 points, five rebounds and five assists while trying to contain Luka Doncic on the defensive end.
The Warriors look to put a stranglehold on this Western Conference Finals series with a Game 3 win. Dallas has been magnificent at home during the playoffs, if there is any team that can rip the Mavericks' hearts out, it's Golden State.
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3 bold Warriors predictions for Game 3 vs. Mavericks
3. Moses Moody will make an impact
Moody saw his first real taste of postseason action in Game 2 and he did not disappoint.
After a disastrous five-minute stint from veteran Damion Lee in the first half, Steve Kerr went with the rookie to play backup two-guard minutes to begin the fourth quarter. Moody made just one field goal and had one assist. But Kerr seemed to have liked what he saw from the 19-year-old, as he played Moody for nine minutes and 35 seconds of the final stanza, helping the Warriors pull away.
As you can see, Moody didn't make much of an impact on the stat sheet. Still, he was always in the right spots offensively and did not panic when he had the ball in his hands. His length and versatility also provided great value for Golden State on the defensive end.
With what Moody showed in crunch time of Game 2, Kerr should thrust the rookie into the rotation moving forward. We think he'll provide a spark for Golden State on Sunday.
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2. Game 6 Klay will show up
We're still in Game 3, but we predict Klay Thompson will have one those games for the Warriors on Sunday.
Thompson has yet to have an explosive shooting night through the first two games of the Conference Finals, totaling 30 points. He started out really slow in Games 1 and 2, missing all four of his first-half shot attempts in the opener and scoring just six points prior to intermission of Friday's contest.
Look for the Warriors to generate more open looks for Thompson early in Game 3. It's easy to see when Thompson has it going from the jump. Usually, when the sharpshooter has one those nights, he starts the game guns blazing.
If Thompson goes nuclear in Game 3, this series could be lights out for the Mavericks.
1. Golden State will stun the Mavs and take a 3-0 lead in this series
Doncic poured in 42 points. Jalen Brunson scored 31 points. Reggie Bullock added 21 points. The Mavericks established a 19-point lead in the second period. They made a blistering 15-of-27 three-pointers in the first half to take a 14-point cushion into the half. They forced 10 Golden State turnovers through the first 24 minutes of play. Add the fact that Dallas has won 25 games in a row when leading by double-digits, too.
All of those numbers are ingredients for a Mavericks blowout win. Yet, Golden State still managed to weather the first-half storm, roaring back after the break to win Game 2.
The Warriors showed their championship resolve in the third and fourth quarters. They clamped down defensively in the third quarter, holding Dallas to just 13 points on 5-of-19 shooting. Just as importantly, they cleaned up their messes offensively, committing just three second-half turnovers.
In a way, the Mavericks gave the Warriors their best shot in that first half. But Golden State erased their big lead in a matter of 12 minutes, closing out Dallas in championship fashion late. The Warriors will still need to solve their turnover woes and find a way to take away the Mavs' open looks from deep. Nonetheless, Golden State seems to have found the answer to attack Dallas' defense offensively.
If the Warriors continue doing what they've been doing, Game 3 will spell doom for Doncic and company.
