Mavericks vs Warriors Game 2 Odds, Picks and Preview
- The Golden State Warriors hold a 1-0 lead over the Dallas Mavericks heading into Game 2
- The Dubs are 6.5-point favorites for the second game of the Western Conference Finals at FanDuel
- Read below for our Mavericks vs Warriors Game 2 preview
The Golden State Warriors host the Dallas Mavericks for Game 2 at Chase Center on Friday night. Having won in blowout fashion in the series opener, the Dubs are favored by 6.5 points for the second contest. Steph Curry posted 21 and 12 in the win, while Luka Doncic scored 20 on 18 shots with a collection of turnovers.
Dallas shot poorly from three (under 23%), and the Warriors got big performances from Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney. Such an emphatic win has seen the spread edge further in Golden State’s favor for Game 2 – they are as short as -270 on the moneyline, too.
Mavericks vs Warriors Game 2 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Mavericks | +6.5 (-110) | +220 | Over 214 (-110) |
| Golden State Warriors | -6.5 (-110) | -270 | Under 214 (-110) |
Odds as of May 19th at FanDuel Sportsbook
Warriors Defense Mixes it Up
Steve Kerr threw everything at Luka Doncic in Game 1. There were different zones, hedges, switches and box-and-ones on show from the first tip. Andrew Wiggins played excellent one-on-one defense against the Slovenian too, resulting in Doncic posting a game-worst -30 plus/minus. It was exactly the sort of performance the Dubs needed to take advantage of Dallas’ fatigue after a grueling series with the Suns.
Doncic appeared tired at points, which isn’t exactly a surprise after the effort he exerted in the last round. Still, the Warriors defense was doing all it could to disrupt his rhythm. Within minutes, Kerr had mixed things up multiple times, never allowing Doncic to settle. The result was plenty of forced shots and some sloppy turnovers.
Andrew Wiggins is proof a player can change for the better. Right situation. Right mindset. All the loud criticism of his shot selection and defensive consistency is over.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) May 19, 2022
Crucially, Golden State didn’t overhelp and allow Doncic to pick out open shooters. The Dubs also rode their luck in that regard, however, with Dallas being uncharacteristically cold from downtown — Maxi Kleber, Davis Bertans, Dorian Finney-Smith and Jalen Brunson combined to make just two threes. A bounce back in perimeter shooting is to be expected in Game 2.
Adapting to Dubs Offense
Where the Mavs could barely hit a shot, the Dubs made over 56% of their field goals despite Klay Thompson having an unproductive first half. Kevon Looney and Wiggins combined to go 13-for-22 and Otto Porter made five-of-seven from the bench. The Warriors are incredibly hard to beat if they get that sort of efficiency from their role players.
Part of the success for the Warriors on offense was the Mavericks’ defense struggling to keep up with the constant movement. Looney and Draymond Green both had some easy buckets at the rim as the Dallas defense was lost on cuts, handoffs and screens. It’s bound to take some adaptation facing this Warriors offense after the deliberate, pick-and-roll attack of the Suns.
Luka Doncic on the Warriors defense tonight: "Great job. That's it. That's all I've got to say. They did a great job."
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) May 19, 2022
Jason Kidd will know changes need to be made, and he’s shown an ability to make mid-series tweaks in this postseason already. While there’s no respite for the Mavs with games coming in quick succession, they should be better equipped to face the Warriors after what they saw in Game 1.
Mavericks vs Warriors Game 2 Prediction
Dallas will not miss as many shots as they did on Wednesday night. Doncic should be able to generate better looks for his teammates after getting a taster of how the Warriors are going to try and slow him down. Perhaps another day or so of rest can help reenergize the Mavs, too.
Mavericks took 29 3s in the first half, only made seven. Luka Doncic had 18, but Dallas only had 45. That's the Warriors' preferred formula in these playoffs. Control the others around Jokic, Morant and now Doncic.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 19, 2022
Having been one of the best three-point shooting teams this postseason, hitting over 37% of their outside shots, another cold night from three is unlikely. The Mavericks are dependent on their threes falling, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see them hit 40+% in Game 2.
These teams are a far closer matchup than the Game 1 score line suggested. Pretty much everything went wrong for the Mavericks, and the Warriors’ rest advantage played a part. Doncic is going to be better in Game 2 – we like the Mavs to at least keep this one close.
Pick: Mavericks +6.5 (-110)
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Sam Cox is a freelance writer and sports junkie, who has spent the past several years immersed in the online gaming industry. He has worked with 888sport, Oddschecker, and Colossus Bets to name a few. Based in the UK, Sam also runs Franchise Sports with his brother.
