Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals shifts over to Texas as the Golden State Warriors on the Dallas Mavericks. With that said, it’s a good time to check out our NBA odds series, which includes our Warriors-Mavericks prediction, odds, and pick we have laid out below.
The Warriors erased a 19-point second-quarter deficit and came back to defeat the Mavericks, 126-117, to take a 2-0 lead in this best-of-seven series. Stephen Curry led Golden State with 31 points. But Kevon Looney was the Warriors’ unsung hero in Game 2. The veteran center scored a career-best 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting to go along with 12rebounds as Draymond Green struggled with foul trouble. Jordan Poole also added 23 points and five assists on 7-of-10 shooting from the field off the bench, while Andrew Wiggins had a great all-around game with 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Meanwhile, Doncic’s 42 points, five rebounds, and eight assists were not enough to lead the Mavericks to the victory. Even Jalen Brunson’s 31-point night and Reggie Bullock’s 21-point effort did not suffice for Dallas to hold on to a sizable lead early in the game, as the Warriors mounted a furious second-half comeback.
Here are the Warriors-Mavericks NBA Playoffs odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Playoffs Odds: Warriors-Mavericks Odds
Golden State Warriors: +3 (-110)
Dallas Mavericks: -3 (-110)
Over: 218 (-110)
Under: 218 (-110)
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Why the Warriors could cover the spread
The Warriors covered the spread in the first two games of the series. And with the squad rolling like they are, there is a good chance they take a commanding 3-0 lead in this Western Conference Finals series.
Golden State's defense came up huge in Game 1, as they held the Mavericks to just 36 percent field goal shooting and 22.9 percent three-point shooting. The Warriors did need a little bit of luck, as they gave up several wide-open triples for Dallas in the first half. But the Mavs just weren't able to capitalize on the easy looks. Nonetheless, Golden State clamped up in the second half by forcing 10 Mavericks turnovers and blew the game wide open.
Game 2 was a different story. The Warriors fell into a 19-point hole in the second quarter as a result of a massive 3-point barrage from Dallas in the first half. The Mavs shot 52.3 percent from the field and made 15-of-27 from beyond the arc to take a 72-58 lead into the intermission. But Golden State responded with a 25-13 third quarter, then followed it up with a 43-point onslaught in the fourth to complete the Game 2 comeback and comfortable nine-point victory at home.
The Warriors will need this kind of effort again on the road as they look to put a stranglehold in this series. Golden State did struggle a bit on the road during the regular season, going just 22-19 on the year. Nonetheless, this squad has proven multiple times this postseason that it can get things done on the road as they showed in Game 1 versus Memphis and Game 3 versus Denver.
Why the Mavericks could cover the spread
As the saying goes, role players tend to play better on their home floor. Sure, Jalen Brunson and Reggie Bullock stepped up in a huge way in Game 2. But Dallas will need more from the rest of its supporting cast if it wants to avoid going down 3-0 against the Warriors.
Dorian Finney-Smith has had a subpar series so far, scoring just 15 points combined through the first two games. Maxi Kleber also scored just three points in each of the first couple of games. And after a 30-point explosion in Game 7 versus the Suns and a 17-point outing in the Game 1 blowout, Spencer Dinwiddie tallied just four points in the Game 2 loss. If those three came along for the ride, the Mavericks could have very well evened the series heading into Game 3.
Nonetheless, Dallas' first half should give them a bit of confidence entering Sunday's must-win game. The Mavericks took a 19-point lead midway through the second period at Chase Center off of some hot shooting from beyond the arc. Golden State still gave up a ton of wide-open looks and Dallas took advantage in the first half. However, the law of averages caught up to them and they managed to just convert 6-of-18 in the second half. Still, the Mavericks will just need to keep taking those long-distance shots, especially if Golden State continues to give them clean looks.
Dallas will need to clean things up on the defensive end, however, especially on the interior. The Mavs gave up a whopping 62 points in the paint in Game 2, as the Warriors paraded their way to the rim, especially in the second half. Dallas was able to solve Phoenix offensively in their previous series. Jason Kidd will need to construct a defensive game plan for Golden State's motion-heavy attack.
Final Warriors-Mavericks Prediction & Pick
The Mavericks should bounce back and play much better at home. They showed they can rain down on Golden State in the first half of Game 2 and with a raucous American Airlines Center crowd egging them on, they should be able to maintain momentum and energy throughout 48 minutes. Luka Doncic seems to have found his rhythm in Game 2. And if the “others” step up, the Mavericks should be able to get this done at home.
Final Warriors-Mavericks Prediction & Pick: Mavericks: -3 (-110)
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