After trailing by as many as 19 points, the Golden State Warriors put on a show in the second half to come away with a 126-117 home victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2. The Warriors take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals.
The Mavericks took a 72-58 lead into halftime, led by 24 first-half points from Luka Dončić.
Luka Doncic from way downtown!
The Mavericks lead the Warriors 72-58 at halftime of Game 2.
Doncic has a game-high 24 points.
pic.twitter.com/UNpJh60PdW — The Comeback (@thecomeback) May 21, 2022
But the Warriors stepped up their defensive intensity in the third quarter and outscored Dallas 25-13 to trim the Mavericks’ lead to two points.
What a third quarter by the Warriors! It's now just a two-point game going into the fourth.
pic.twitter.com/beDh3eXAzu — The Comeback (@thecomeback) May 21, 2022
And in the fourth quarter (when Golden State took its first lead of the game), the Warriors’ offense took things to another level, outscoring Dallas 43-32.
The Warriors take their first lead of Game 2!
pic.twitter.com/Xvsl04bAJm — The Comeback (@thecomeback) May 21, 2022
Good offense by the Warriors, bad defense by the Mavericks. pic.twitter.com/Bk2hdTOzm9
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) May 21, 2022
Steph Curry led the way with 32 points (11-of-21 from the field, 6-of-10 on threes, 4-of-4 at the line), while Jordan Poole scored 23 points (7-of-10 from the field, 2-of-4 on threes, 7-of-7 at the line) and Kevon Looney scored 21 points (10-of-14 from the field, 12 rebounds).
The Looney production is particularly eye-opening. He’d literally never scored 20-plus points in an organized basketball game since his freshman season at UCLA!
So, the Warriors take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series, which now goes to Dallas for Games 3 and 4. Even if the Mavericks are able to win their home games, can they win a game in San Francisco? Golden State is now 8-0 at home — Chase Center — in these playoffs. The second half of Game 2 was just a massive swing in the series and a huge opportunity blown for the Mavericks.
Here’s a sampling of how the basketball world has reacted to the Warriors beating the Mavericks in Game 2:
https://twitter.com/ClutchPointsApp/status/1527863680234246144