The Golden State took a 1-0 lead after a comprehensive win Thursday. The Dallas Mavericks have also lost both Game 1s in the first and second rounds, so will they be able to rebound right away here? Or, will the Warriors go up 2-0?

Catch this game live on Saturday, May 21, at 9 AM, Manila time.

Away: Dallas Mavericks (0-1/0-1 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Luka Doncic
  • SG: Jalen Brunson
  • SF: Reggie Bullock
  • PF: Dorian Finney-Smith
  • C: Dwight Powell

The Mavs survived long enough in the playoffs to get wallopped in the Western Conference finals by Golden State. It didn’t help Dallas that its guns went sub-zero cold in Game 1’s 112-87 road loss, as the Mavericks shot just 36 FG% and were an atrocious 11/48 from deep. A lot of those missed threes weren’t ill-advised ones; many were clear, open looks that they simply just couldn’t drain. 

That won’t stop Dallas from jacking those threes up, which the Mavs should consistently make sooner than later. It’s on the other end of the floor where the Mavericks will have to make adjustments, as they were not able to force enough turnovers and stop the Warriors from passing the ball around for good attempts from the field. The Mavs enter Game 2 with a 6-2 ATS in their last eight games after just a day of rest.

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Home: Golden State Warriors (1-0/1-0 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Stephen Curry
  • SG: Klay Thompson
  • SF: Andrew Wiggins
  • PF: Draymond Green
  • C:  Kevon Looney

There’s no more dangerous player in the NBA when his team is up comfortably than Stephen Curry, and that makes it harder for opponents to claw their way back from a big hole versus the Warriors. Curry finished Game 1 with 21 points to lead Golden State, but it was really the likes of Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, and Kevon Looney who established control of the pace for the Warriors. 

Curry didn’t have a great game, but that Golden State crushed the Mavs in that manner without Curry firing off is bad news for Dallas. Looney continues to play well, scoring 6 of his 10 points in the first period, and his presence is an additional headache for the Mavs. Wiggins is also off to a great start to the series, scoring 19 points (10 in the first quarter) in Game 1 for Golden State which also shot 56.1 FG% against arguably the best defensive team in the league. The Warriors are  6-2 ATS in their last eight games as a home favorite.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Mavs cover (+6.5).

Over/Under: Taking the Under (214.0).

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