The NBA Western Conference Finals could be on the verge of a sweep as the Golden State Warriors take on the Dallas Mavericks looking to close out the series at the earliest possible opportunity.
The Warriors lead the series 3-0 heading into game 4, having nullified the Mavericks' offense in the opening games and finding a way to get the much-needed win that will see them progress to the NBA Championship Finals.
Can Steph Curry lead his team to a dominant sweep over Luka Doncic's side and send a message to the East? We'll break down the game and give you our best betting picks for the huge win-or-go-home clash between the West's best sides.
Here's how to bet on the NBA playoffs.
Game 4 information
- May 24th, 2022
- 9:00 pm ET
- American Airlines Centre, Dallas
- Live on ESPN
How did the NBA playoffs series go so far?
Game 1 was seen by many to be a complete pick'em after the way both teams won their NBA Western Conference Semi-final matchups, but it turned out to be quite the blowout.
The Warriors came away with a huge 112-87 win thanks to a stellar performance from the main man himself, as Curry put up 21 points and grabbed a game-leading 12 rebounds too. Andrew Wiggins helped with 19 points, as did Jordan Poole, while Klay Thompson hit 15 with four assists too.
Doncic did his best to help the Mavs, hitting 20 points and seven rebounds, closely followed by Spencer Dinwiddie's 17 points and Jalen Brunson's 14 points, but overall they just didn't have enough to prevent defeat.
Game 2 saw the Mavericks find their scoring boots, but their defense evaded them as they were beaten 126-117 at home to give themselves real issues.
Curry was on fire once again, hitting 32 points with eight rebounds and five assists, while Poole hit 23 points, Kevon Looney hit 21 points with a huge 12 rebounds, and Wiggins and Thompson combined for 31 points, nine rebounds, and ten assists.
Doncic hit a series leading 42 points with eight assists and five rebounds and was accompanied by Brunson, hitting 31 points with seven rebounds and five assists, while Reggie Bullock got 21 points from 44 minutes of action, but it wasn't enough in the end.
Take a look at how to bet on the Golden State Warriors here.
Game 3 was arguably the most contested game of the bunch as eight players across the two teams hit double figures for points, but once again, it was the ability to spread that around for the Warriors that claimed them a third straight win in the series, 109-100.
Doncic put in a huge showing, hitting 40 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while Brunson hit 20 points and Dinwiddie hit 26 points for the three players to combine for 86 of the 100 points they scored on the night.
But the visiting side put on a show as Curry hit 31 points and 11 assists, while Wiggings scored 27 and grabbed 11 rebounds. Thompson got 19 points with 7 rebounds, too, then Poole and Draymond Green got themselves ten points each to add to the 12 rebounds that Looney managed also. The workload was more evenly spread and they claimed a big win on an important night.
Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends
This is due to be a super exciting game of basketball, with the home side in desperate need of as much support as possible in their win-or-go-home status.
Somehow they're seen as the moneyline favorites heading into the game, too, with odds of -120 available. So far this season, they have gone 56-43-1 against the spread, and in games where they have played as a one-point favorite or more, they have a record of 32-20-1.
With the over currently set quite high at 215.5, it's a number that they've only managed to hit in 39/100 games so far this season and just once in the series so far.
Alternatively, the 3-0 leaders of the series are EVEN underdogs and represent tremendous value for this game.
They have covered the spread in 51 out of 100 games so far this season and are 12-9 against the spread when playing as at least one-point underdogs. They've seen their games hit the overs mark on 43 occasions out of 100 possible games, making the under a good bet to back in this one.
Prediction
Win or go home for the Mavericks and with home advantage, but they haven't shown that they have enough about them as a roster to get the better of the Golden State Warriors in any facet yet.
Doncic's individual qualities are undeniable and he has carried this team to an NBA Western Conference final this season with his brilliance, but when that brilliance can be matched by an opposition player like Curry, it becomes more about what the rest of the players can offer.
Golden State simply have far more depth in their roster and more players to rely on when the chips are down, with more experience of being in these dramatic and pressure situations.
Expect another brilliant showing from the NBA's Slovakian superstar, but overall it should be another victory for Dub Nation to earn a sweep and their place in the NBA Championship finals.
