By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Guess who’s back?
After missing the playoffs during the last two years, the healthy and mighty Golden State Warriors are back in the NBA Finals after eliminating the Dallas Mavericks, 120-110, in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.
Since Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls’ six-peat, Golden State became the first NBA franchise to claim six finals trips in eight years and will gun for the team’s fourth title in the Stephen Curry era.
There was nothing Dallas could do as the chemistry of the Warriors prevailed throughout the game which helped them record 36 assists, one of their best outings in the postseason since 2014.
Klay Thompson, who struggled with his shooting in the first four games, finally came alive and looked like “Game 6 Klay” after scoring 11 quick points while sinking his first three shots from downtown.
The other half of the splash brothers was unconscious from the field and made up for his quiet performances after failing to reach the 20-point mark until his Game 5 explosion where he ended up with 32 points on 8/16 shooting from downtown.
Thompson’s hot hands led to a quick double-digit lead for Golden State but Dallas’ Spencer Dinwiddie answered after hitting a couple of threes and a floater to cut the Warriors’ lead to five, 28-23, at the end of the first quarter.
Luka Doncic, who was hot in Game 4, struggled from the field which led to more Golden State stops in the second quarter.
Kevon Looney’s activity on the boards once again haunted the Mavericks as he dominated the boards with 18 while chipping in 10 points.
Despite Dallas’ three-point conversions, Golden State was able to hold their ground and banked on their assault during the last four minutes of the second quarter that put them ahead 69-52 heading into the second half.
There were no major differences soon as the third quarter kicked off with Andrew Wiggins going to the hole at will which ballooned the Warriors’ lead to as much as 20 points.
Doncic answered and once again put the team on his back and spearheaded a massive 15-2 run to close the third quarter and trimmed the Golden State lead to just 10 points.
However, Doncic and the Mavericks would lose steam in the fourth quarter as the Warriors’ offense was just too much to handle.
During the grueling stretch, Doncic was unable to sink his signature step-back three-pointers and was always cut off going to the rim due to Golden State’s fresher legs.
Golden State were then crowned as the Western Conference kings and will wait for the winner between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics as they are set to square off today in Game 6.
