‘Championship or bust’
In quest for title, Warriors must first get past Mavs
SAN FRANCISCO — Many months ago and well before he returned to the court from an injury absence of more than 2 ½ years, Klay Thompson made a bold proclamation: “It’s championship or bust.”
Thompson, Stephen Curry and the Warriors are one step closer to having a chance to make good on those words as they prepare to tip off Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Mavericks on Wednesday night.
“I love the moments. I love the pressure. I love playing basketball at the highest level,” Thompson said.
Thompson looks like his old self this postseason after returning in January. He had been sidelined since the 2019 NBA Finals when he tore the ACL in his left knee and had surgery. He was working his way back when he tore his right Achilles tendon and underwent another operation.
He can’t wait to lead the thirdseeded Warriors into the best-of-seven series against the surprising fourthseeded Mavericks, who took down the top-seeded Suns 123-90 in the deciding seventh game of their semifinal series Sunday.
“They’re obviously playing at a really high level, they have a lot of guys that have shined this playoff run,” Curry said.
A year ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo had his breakthrough moment on the playoff stage leading the Bucks to a title, and now this might be Luka Doncic’s time to do so for the Mavericks.
“He’s a really unique player and clearly one of the very best players in the league. I think the ability to shoot the step-back 3 and also get to the rim and pass the ball so well makes him a really difficult cover,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s got a lot of confidence, he feeds his players confidence, you can see that, there’s a good vibe on that team, a good spirit.
There’s a reason they’re here in the conference finals.”
The Mavericks defense certainly presents a challenge for the Warriors’ high-powered offense.
The Suns shot at least 50% in their first eight playoff games before the Mavs held them under that mark the final five games.
The Suns shot 24% in the first half of Game 7 while falling behind by 30.
The Mavericks also held the Suns to their three lowest-scoring games, regular season included, in the series — 103-94 in Game 3, 113-86 in Game 6 and 123-90 in Game 7.
The Mavericks were second to the Celtics in fewest points allowed per game during the regular season, the highest finish in franchise history. The Celtics finished at 104.5 and the Mavs at 104.7.
Warriors forward Otto Porter Jr. was listed as probable for Game 1 after he missed Game 6 against the Grizzlies with soreness in his right foot.
Guard Gary Payton II hadn’t been ruled out to return at some point this round from a broken left elbow he suffered when he crashed to the floor after a hard foul by Dillon Brooks that earned the the Grizzlies forward a Flagrant 2 foul, ejection and one-game suspension