Everyone knew what a tall task the Dallas Mavericks faced when they dropped into a 3-0 hole against the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. No team in NBA history had ever come back from such a deficit in 146 tries. Well, we can make that 147 now.
Facing elimination in Game 5 at Chase Center on Thursday night, the Mavs weren't able to overcome a poor first half and ultimately lost to the Warriors, 120-110. Golden State will advance to the NBA Finals to take on either the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat. For the Mavs, their journey, at least for this season, comes to an end as an important offseason awaits.
After starting off sluggish, Luka Doncic ended up leading the Mavs in Game 5 with 28 points, eight rebounds and six assists. He shot just 10-28 from the field, including 3-13 from 3-point range.
For most of the night, especially in the first half, Doncic wasn't getting the benefit of the whistle, and that unfortunately affected his play on the defensive end of the floor. Given the load Doncic has carried throughout this postseason, his frustration in Game 5 was untimely, yet understandable.
Klay Thompson is known for his big Game 6 performances over his stellar career, but it was Game 5 where he shined this time, as he led the Warriors with 32 points on 12-25 shooting, including 8-16 from deep. It was Thompson's best game of these playoffs.
The Mavs have a lot to build on after having a magnificent season. Although adding a second star to the roster would be preferred, Dallas really just needs a few more pieces to round out the rotation in order to take the next step. A fun and productive summer starts now.
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