In the West Finals rematch, Doncic, Mavs defeat Curry, Warriors

Tim Hardaway Jr. was forced to watch as his Dallas Mavericks were defeated by the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals of the previous year.

In their first encounter this season, he found himself in the midst of some playoff heat.

The Mavericks defeated the Warriors 116-113 on Tuesday night thanks to Tim Hardaway’s late game go-ahead 3-pointer, Luka Doncic’s 41 points in his NBA-leading sixth triple-double, and those two players.

Dallas snapped a four-game losing slide that was the longest in coach Jason Kidd’s two seasons. After a sluggish start to the season, Golden State, which won five games in a row to win the championship last spring, suffered only its second loss in seven games.

Hardaway, who missed the 2022 playoffs while healing from a broken foot, responded in the affirmative when asked whether he sensed the playoff mood.

Simply due of the excitement and the fact that I was unable to participate in the Western Conference Finals. Simply wanting to compete and enjoy myself. competing against the best.

Golden State led by 110-108 after Stephen Curry’s 32 points, which included a fast draw 3-pointer over Maxi Kleber. However, Dallas scored the next five points to take the lead permanently.

With 1:49 left, Hardaway countered Curry’s 3-pointer with 22 points via Doncic’s 12th and final assist. Curry’s attempted layup was obstructed by Doncic before Josh Green’s quick jumper.

The decisive play, in my opinion, came down the stretch, said to Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “We must anticipate that teams will make shots against us. Every team will circle us on their calendar.

Curry received a traveling penalty with 10 seconds left in the game, putting the Warriors down two points. It was the 10th such penalty for both teams.

Curry said, “Bang, bang scenario.” “Stupid move on my part to pass up the layup. The timing and score were a bit unclear to me. attempting the heroic shot. I didn’t believe it was a long enough journey to let the play end. Who am I to say, though?

After Dorian Finney-Smith missed both of his free throw attempts to maintain the margin at three, Golden State had one more opportunity. Curry’s Splash Brother completed 1 of 6 from beyond the arc with five points, despite Klay Thompson getting a decent look at the three-point line.

For his 51st triple-double of his career, Doncic added 12 rebounds.

Golden State, which trailed by 17 in the first quarter but grabbed its first lead before halftime, was paced by Jonathan Kuminga, who finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Prior to being sent out for a flagrant-2 violation for elbowing Jordan Poole in the face early in the fourth quarter, Spencer Dinwiddie had scored 14 points for Dallas.

4TH BACK-AND-FORTH

Six different leads were held in the fourth quarter until Hardaway’s game-winning basket. Due in part to Dinwiddie’s dismissal, Doncic came back early after the Warriors reached their largest lead at 100-96 and began a 7-0 run with a 3. With his lone three later, Thompson gave Golden State the lead again.

TIP-INS

Warriors: Kuminga and Anthony Lamb combined to go 7 of 8 from the field in the second quarter, scoring eight points each off the bench. Early in the quarter, Lamb made a string of three-pointers. Lamb earned an 11. With 12 points, Draymond Green recorded his third straight double-figure performance. In the previous eleven, he had only two.

NBA champion Mavericks G All-Star Kemba Walker signed, but it’s unclear when he’ll start playing. The team is hoping to have him out on the field for practice on Wednesday. Having a history of knee problems, the 32-year-old went unsigned for the first six weeks of the season. In the fourth quarter, Josh Green scored seven of his 13 points.

NEXT UP

Warriors: A three-game homestand begins on Friday when Chicago visits. In the series, the Warriors are on a 10-game winning streak.

Mavericks: A two-game trip begins on Thursday in Detroit before the first matchup on Saturday in the early afternoon against the New York Knicks and former Dallas guard Jalen Brunson.