The Dallas Mavericks staved off being swept by the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 after they finally had a great shooting performance that allowed them to take a 29-point lead. Despite almost blowing it in the fourth quarter, the Mavericks managed to hold on for a 10-point win.
That was the Mavericks’ 3rd win this season in a game that could end their season and 4th win in elimination games (Game 6 against Utah). They will have to improve their total by three more wins if they hope to make it out of the series against the Warriors by overcoming a 3-0 deficit, something that’s never been done before.
However, this Dallas team may be more suited to a challenge like this than any other team mentally. They fight extremely hard with their back against the wall, and Jason Kidd is relying on that experience and toughness from this Dallas squad in Game 5:
Jason Kidd: “We've had Game 7 and I guess Game 4 was another elimination game for us. Just one game at a time. We're just focused here to find a way to win on the road in Game 5.”
— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) May 27, 2022
The task is herculean and doesn’t look very likely to be achieved. The Mavericks are down by 17 points at halftime of Game 5 and are not looking confident. The Warriors can’t miss a shot, as the Mavs are struggling behind a fantastic team defensive performance by GSW to limit Luka Doncic’s contributions.
The mentality is there, but the roster versatility on the Mavs has been missing all playoff long. It was evident against Utah, it was evident when they went down 0-2 against the Suns, and it’s crystal clear now. The Mavericks have had a fantastic season, but the off-season is going to be crucial in determining how they take this momentum into next season.
The Warriors are bred with championship-quality players with heaps of experience, they will not be blowing a 3-0 lead. But, they will definitely respect the heart of the Mavericks after this series.
