Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks are one loss away from being swept in the Western Conference Finals. Much of the same story from the previous games continued, as the Mavs shooters struggled from beyond the arc. In addition, the Mavs defense hasn't plugged the holes that have been evident in the first two games, making the Warriors game plan straightforward.

Doncic had his 8th 40-point playoff game in his career, but this has become his 6th loss in those 8 games. Doncic's performance saw him explode in the fourth quarter, but the Mavs couldn't stop the Warriors and slumped to the loss. Despite Luka's performance, many people have already started bringing the forks out for Doncic.

With the Mavs on the verge of being swept, Luka has been tasked to prove that he can carry a team like the superstars he is compared to. Many fans also understand that it is hard to beat the Warriors when role players like Reggie Bullock shoot 0-11:

The Mavs have played their team to its last legs. They have a solid rotation of a few dependable players who have played heavy minutes through the latter half of the regular season and all post-season. Bullock leads the playoffs in minutes played, with players like Dorian Finney-Smith also averaging heavy minutes. 

The Warriors are proving why they are a championship-level team. This was a stellar team performance exemplified by performances by Andrew Wiggins, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson. 

Hopefully, the Mavericks can find their fighting spirit in Game 4. The players looked worn out by the end of the game and couldn't keep pace with the Warriors, outside Doncic who had a 23-point quarter to keep the Mavs within single digits. But it seems the load on the young star may be a little too much for this playoff run.

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