WARRIORS ROAR BACK, GO UP 2-0
Luka Doncic was dominating, yelling in celebration and flexing his arms in Stephen Curry’s house.
Then Curry and the Golden State Warriors delivered one of those signature third-quarter flurries that have defined so many of their postseason runs — with this one being sparked by Kevon Looney.
Just like that, they’re two wins away from getting back to another NBA Finals.
Curry scored 32 points with six 3-pointers and eight more rebounds, Looney had a career-high 21 points and 12 rebounds and the Warriors rallied past the Dallas Mavericks 126-117 on Friday for a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.
“I feel honored just to be a part of the ride,” Looney said.
Doncic scored 42 points and Dallas led most of the way before the Warriors took their first lead of the night on Otto Porter Jr.’s 3pointer 18 seconds into the fourth.
Doncic had 18 points in the first quarter, two shy of his 20-point Game 1 total. His 3-pointer — the Mavs’ 15th of the first half — with 13 seconds before halftime made it 7258 at the break and gave him 24 points.
“Against someone that good you’re just trying to limit some of the easy stuff,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
But Golden State answered with a 25-13 third quarter to pull to 85-83 going into the fourth — coming out of halftime with a performance reminiscent of those thrilling third quarters of the past.
The series shifts to Dallas for Game 3 on Sunday. Golden State is two wins from a return to the NBA Finals for the first time since making five straight trips from 2015-19.
“We’re on the road against one of the best teams in the league. It happens. They held serve,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “We’ve seen this in Phoenix so now we have to go back and just focus on Game 3.”
Celtics turn on Heat
Now armed with home-court advantage in the series, Boston will look to maintain its edge at TD Garden during today’s Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, where the Celtics will be opposite a Miami team that is dealing with new health concerns.
Heat forward P.J. Tucker left Game 2 with a left knee bruise, had an MRI before boarding the team plane to Boston and is questionable for Game 3. Point guard Kyle Lowry remains questionable with a right hamstring strain.
Notable
Boston’s Marcus Smart was the leading vote-getter for the AllDefensive first team, with Mikal Bridges of Phoenix joining him as the other guard. Former Defensive Players of the Year Rudy Gobert of Utah and Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee were also voted to the first team along with Memphis forward Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Lakers are continuing interviews with three coach candidates from their original pool, one step closer to finding a replacement for Frank Vogel. Milwaukee assistant Darvin Ham, former Brooklyn coach and current Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson, and former Portland coach Terry Stotts advanced to the next stage of interviews.