The Warriors overcame a 19-point deficit in the second half to win the second game of the series. (2:57)
The Golden State Warriors have a history of big third quarters. Nobody knows why.
Steve Kerr might give the best halftime speech. It may take them 24 minutes to fully assess how their opponent is approaching the game. They might need those 24 minutes to wake up. They come out after halftime more often than not.
The Warriors came back from a 19-point deficit to beat the Dallas Mavericks 126-117 in the second game of the Western Conference finals. The Warriors have a 2-0 lead in the series.
The Mavericks owned the first two quarters. They hit 15 3-pointers in the first half, setting a new franchise record. In the past 25 seasons, only two starting guards have scored 20 points in the first half of a playoff game.
Kerr told them that if they developed some composure in the second half, the game would come to them. Maybe more so. Dallas punched us. They wouldn't make 15 3s in the second half if we got poised.
The Warriors were plus-11 in the third quarter. They were plus-12 in the second game.
The Warriors scored more points in the paint in the third than the Mavericks did. The Warriors limited Dallas to just two 3-pointers in the third quarter, which was the lowest scoring quarter of the playoffs.
Stephen Curry said that they got a lot better on the ball by trying to keep bodies on Luka.
The Warriors were unstoppable in the second half. Otto Porter Jr. hit a 3-pointer in the fourth to give the Warriors their first lead. Jordan Poole attacked the rim many times to help swing the momentum. Curry scored 10 of his 32 in the fourth, including the dagger shot that sealed the deal for Golden State.
It was Kevon who stole the show. He admitted that he was nervous-racking as he attempted free throws.
The Mavericks were held to 1-of-11 shooting from the field by the primary defender, who was Looney. He had 12 rebound.
Looney is used to being switched onto guards. He was switched to James Harden when the Warriors faced Houston multiple times in the playoffs.
Looney said he takes the same approach. It was my first time playing on a big stage. I don't know if my teammates had the most faith in me, but they put me out there and I handled it well.
I am a little bit smarter and a little bit more physical now. I am able to guard those guys better. Luka and Spencer are different types of iso players. It was difficult having to guard those guys. I think I did a good job. I have to keep it up because those guys are going to keep coming.
The Warriors have focused on his defense and his rebound all season. He grabbed 22 rebound in the Western Conference semifinals.
His offense took center stage against the Mavericks. In the second game, he scored a career-high 21 points. He scored 20 points for the first time since his freshman year at UCLA, and he became the first Warriors center to have 20 and 10 points in a playoff game since the 1970s.
During the regular season, he didn't work in the dunker spot a lot, but he's comfortable with it. The Warriors have been able to rely on drop-off passes to Looney against the Mavericks, who lack a true big rim protector or shot-blocker. With so much attention being paid to Curry, the paint has remained open for Looney.
It is a different type of job for a center on the Warriors. It has a lot of screen setting and a lot of playmaking. For me to have a game like that is cool.
The Warriors made a ferocious push in the third quarter, which resulted in 11 points for Looney.
The Warriors trailed by 19 at one point in the second quarter, their third-largest playoff comeback in the past 25 years.
Porter hit a 3-pointer from the right corner to give Golden State its first lead. The Warriors scored in the second half.
Curry said that it was the supreme confidence in what they did that made it so. You have imposed your will. Like for us, the experience and chemistry.
We have a spirit where we feel like we are never out of it. We have been severely outmatched from start to finish in only one game so far. You can feel the energy in the game because of that belief. When you have the chance to stick the dagger, or come up with three stops in a row, those are the times when you feel the best energy.
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