Dubs can clinch NBA Finals return

May 24, 2022

To view the live updates on your mobile device click here.GAME ESSENTIALS: Warriors (53-29) vs. Mavericks (52-30), at 6 pm (PT). TV: TNTODDS: Mavericks -3.5. OVER/UNDER: 217.PLAYOFF SERIES: Warriors lead 3-0. LAST PLAYOFF MEETING: Warriors won 2007 first-round series 4-2.It was supposed to be a tight and competitive series, a showdown between two superstars. Instead, the Warriors are one win away from sweeping another Western Conference finals and returning to the NBA Finals.On Sunday night, the Warriors did as they have always done with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green: win a playoff game on the road. And it was the newest key piece of their core, Andrew Wiggins, who stole the show with his earth-shattering dunk on Luka Dončić — even if it was initially called for a foul.Wiggins has been sensational in this series and all playoffs long, both making an impact on the offensive end and forcing Dončić to work extremely hard to keep putting up his big point totals and wearing him down by the fourth quarters.

The Mavericks have been getting good scoring from Dončić, Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie, but have been getting abysmal shooting performances from their other role players. Many of the missed shots are open looks, but Golden State’s team defense may be making an impact, too.

And with the chance to earn their sixth trip to the NBA Finals in eight seasons here, there’s also a shot to earn eight days off before Game 1 of those Finals on Thursday, June 2. An entire week to rest, recuperate, recovery and hopefully get Otto Porter Jr., Gary Payton II and Andre Iguodala healthy for either Miami or Boston.

Can Dallas finally see its shots go down for an entire game, to keep their season alive? Will the Warriors continue to get good play from Curry, or get Green playing like himself again? And can the Warriors finish off the sweep and return back to the NBA Finals?

Follow along as reporters Madeline Kenney and Shayna Rubin and columnist Dieter Kurtenbach break down those questions and more in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.