Game Time: 9:00 PM ET, Friday, May 20th, 2022 

Venue:   Chase Center, San Francisco, California  

Where to Watch:  TNT 

DraftKings:  Warriors -6; O/U 214

Fanduel:  Warriors -6; O/U 214

BetMGM: Warriors -6.5; O/U 214.5

Mavericks: 52-30, 3rd place Western Conference; 0-1 in the series.

Warriors: 53-29, 2nd place Western Conference; 1-0 in the series.

An NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals Game 2.  We all saw the first game, didn't we?.  I recommended the Warriors to cover the spread… but did not know they would cover by that much… or that dominantly.  “It’s just 1 game!” shouts my grizzled old basketball coach.  “Things can flip in a heartbeat!”  shouts the handicapper for the Sportsbook.  “Go easy, bet conservatively!” shouts my Range Rover dealer who can already taste the commission he will earn from my purchase after this Playoff season.  The NBA playoffs have had a few surprises… but the Warriors beating the Mavericks in Game 1, at home in the Chase Center, was not remotely ever going to be one of them!  It was easy $$$ all day everyday.  All four of the teams left standing in the 2022 NBA Playoffs… all four teams pushing for a conference Finals win have something in common… They are all great or almost great on the defensive end… They are all deep. They all have some superstar on the roster to inspire the role players with incredible scoring bursts.  Another thing in common is that of the teams that are left… there are no dominant bruising 7-foot centers.  The Center position is being played by NBA role players on every team except in Miami where it is being played by an out-of-position power forward.  This is the perfect formula for the Golden State Warriors to get another title.  So the remaining question is:  Will Dallas cover any spreads going forward?.... Or do we keep doubling up with the obvious play on Golden State?

The Dallas Mavericks have won 6 of their last ten games. Ringing up 3 Overs and 7 Unders.  The last game was a big loss to the Warriors 112-87.  It was a loss against the spread and another Over.  All season Dallas has leaned on superstar top-five NBA player PG Luka Doncic.  Luka’s usage rate is rivaled only by Giannis Antetokounmpo… his statline is a steady stream of near triple-doubles with a high scoring mark.  Luka is the man.  Luka struggled mightily against a Warriors team that doesn’t have to sacrifice one of their scorers in order to put several long, lean, athletic guys on Luka all game long.  Luka faced Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, Otto Porter Jr, and rookie Jonathan Kuminga… Luka has the size advantage on none of them.  They wore him out.  Luka still scored 20 points… but that is about 15 less than Dallas will need out of Luka in order to have a chance at a win.  Do not start thinking Luka will not eventually have a big scoring game against the Warriors… he will.  But the hard thing for the Mavs is that Luka’s running mates have to consume energy by playing defense against the Warriors' Big Three scorers. Head Coach Jason Kidd will have to find a wrinkle soon… or it will be a short series.  

The Golden State Warriors won a Game 1 at home in the Western Conference Finals.  That should not surprise you considering The Warriors have not lost a playoff (not finals) series to a Western Conference team in 8 years!  (5 Finals, 2 seasons missed playoffs, this season).  If that is not a dynasty then there is no such thing as a dynasty.  The top seven guys in the Warriors rotation all scored in double figures… PG Stephen Curry landed 21 points in 30 minutes of play and got to relax… SG Klay Thompson was the master of the third quarter, he landed 15 points, almost all in that 3rd, SG Jordan Poole got 19, SF Andrew Wiggins got 19 points…. It was a stomping.  The Warriors were riding so high that PF Draymond Green quickly changed and joined the TNT crew for postgame chatter.  SF Andrew Wiggins played the most minutes for the Warriors… 35.  They will be rested and ready to do it again.  Head Coach Steve Kerr’s biggest job at this moment is to keep them in the moment.

Team Del Genio is 36-13-0 over the last 60 days of NBA betting! If you had followed his picks You would be up $21,450!!!!  Why don’t you take the money?   Get Team Del Genio’s picks now!  Don’t miss out on these great chances to beat your Book! Make winning the thing you do from now on!! Stay with BigAl.com throughout the NBA Playoffs and let’s grow that bankroll! You can discover the best  picks right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers. NCAAF, NFL, MLB, college football… get positive value from all your bets! Expert picks!  Fun fact… winning a wager is much better than making a wager!

The Mavericks are 60-36 on the season, but 55-40-1 ATS.  They have logged 36 Overs, 59 Unders, and 1 Push.  They are 26-23 in road games.

The Warriors are 61-32 on the season, but 47-43-4 ATS.  They have notched 42 Overs, 50 Unders, and 2 Push.  They are 37-10 in home games.  (37-10!!! AT HOME!!!)

The Mavericks are 24th in scoring with 108.0 points per game, 24th in rebounds with 43.0 per game, and 9th in AST/To ratio with 1.9.  On defense they rank 2nd while holding opponents to 104.7 ppg.

The Warriors are 15th in scoring with 111.0 points per game, 7th in rebounds with 45.5 per game, and 12th in AST/TO ratio with 1.8. On defense they rank 3rd while holding opponents to 105.5 ppg.  

 

Our prediction for Friday, May 20th is…..  Warriors 115 - Mavericks 99

Expect another big Warriors win.  Ther Mavericks dropped the first two games to the Phoenix Suns and didn’t start the recovery until they got back home.  Whether they are in a position to recover or not?… expect them to lose to the Warriors again.

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Dallas is 4-2 ATS versus Golden State at Golden State the last 3 seasons.

Golden State is 60-43 ATS versus Dallas since 1996.

Dallas is 370-285 ATS as a road underdog since 1996.

Golden State is 40-29 ATS as a home favorite the last 3 seasons.

Mavericks: SG Tim Hardaway Jr (foot) Out

Warriors: PG Gary Payton II (elbow) Out

Mavericks: SF Dorian Finney-Smith, SF Reggie Bullock, C Dwight Powell, SG Jalen Brunson, PG Luka Doncic

Warriors: PG Stephen Curry, SF Klay Thompson, PF Andrew Wiggins, SG Jordan Poole, C Draymond Green

Mavericks: Jason “Supervillian” Kidd

Warriors: Steve “The Ringmaster” Kerr