Finals appearance isn’t a given just yet
DALLAS — A series victory seems all but inevitable for the Golden State Warriors.
But a defeat of Dallas in Tuesday’s Game 4 of the Western Conference finals might not carry with it the same guarantee.
Twice already this postseason, the Warriors have had a chance to close out a playoff series with a road win, and twice they’ve lost.
“Closeout games are tough in general,” Warriors guard Jordan Poole said. “So we have to continue to stick to our game plan and try to get the job done as best as we can.”
Golden State jumped to a 3-0 series lead in the opening round against the Nuggets, winning the first two games with ease and narrowly escaping with a victory in Game 3 in Denver. But in Game 4, the Warriors committed 17 turnovers and faltered down the stretch as the Nuggets were able to force a Game 5 back in San Francisco and avoid elimination.
“In Denver, we played sloppy in the first half,” guard Stephen Curry said. “We were just kind of all over the place, and we gave them life on top of them playing well. We allowed their home crowd to get into it.”
In Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Grizzlies, another closeout opportunity, the Warriors absorbed one of their worst losses in franchise postseason history, falling 134-95 at FedEx Forum. At one point, Memphis led by 55 points, the second-largest lead at any point of an NBA playoff game over the past 25 years. Golden State committed 22 turnovers, surrendered 50 points in the paint and gave up 24 secondchance points.
“In Memphis, we were just outmatched, out-gameplanned from the start,” Curry said. “We didn’t respond well until Game 6. So we take those lessons and understand what that feels like. It’s extremely hard to close out any team, especially on the road.”
Draymond Green told reporters following Sunday’s 109-100 victory over the Mavericks that being one win away from the NBA Finals means “absolutely nothing.”
Dallas had won five consecutive home games this postseason before the Game 3 loss to the Warriors. The final three of those five came against conference top seed Phoenix in the Western semifinals.
“You have to continue to focus on the game plan and what adjustments we might make,” Curry said. “No, we don’t have to play a perfect game. But you still have to compete. You can’t let your guard down in terms of the little things that matter.”
Porter update: The Warriors said forward Otto Porter Jr. is doubtful for Game 4 after injuring his left foot in Game 3. X-rays taken after the game came back negative.
Head coach Steve Kerr told reporters Monday that Porter said he “wasn’t feeling terrible.” Porter played seven minutes before being forced from Sunday’s game and scored two points; he had reached double figures in four of his past five playoff games.