Thompson leads Golden State Warriors into NBA Finals after dispatching Dallas Mavericks in Game 5

Scott AllenScott Allen27 May 2022
Golden State Warriors Draymond Green high fives Klay Thompson

Golden State Warriors Draymond Green high fives Klay Thompson

The Golden State Warriors booked their place in the NBA finals after storming to a 120-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the Eastern Conference Finals, to win the series 4-1.

The Warriors have now reached the NBA finals for the sixth time in the last eight years, and will be looking to win their seventh Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.

Steph Curry was the Western Conference MVP, despite only posting 15 points and nine assists in this game. But it was Klay Thompson who shone in the fifth claiming a game-high 32 points and becoming the first player in NBA history to hit eight 3s in multiple series-clinching games in his career.

Warriors led by five points after the first quarter and extended the lead to 69-52 by half-time with Clay draining 19 points in the first half.

The Warriors reached 87-62, before the Mavs woke from their slumber. Luka Doncic dragged them back into the match as the Mavs scored 14 unanswered points and cut the Warriors lead going into the fourth to single figures.

But the Warriors stepped back on the throttle in the final period and extended the lead to over ten points, before seeing the game out comfortably.

Draymond Green scored 17 points and nine assists, his highest scoring night of the postseason, while Kevon Looney played a huge part in the victory with 18 rebounds. Andrew Wiggins added 18 points and 10 rebounds,
For the Mavericks Luka Doncic scored 28 points, Spencer Dinwiddie added 26.

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said: "Tonight was different because we've done it before. But in a different way, it was incredibly meaningful given everything that we've been through organizationally over the last couple of years.

"I'm happy for everybody ... [but] it's hard not to be most excited for Klay.

"The fight that he's been through to get back to this point. Just an incredible accomplishment for him. For him to be a part of it, he's so happy again. It's wonderful to see."
Thompson said: "I dreamt about this day.
"Just my appreciation for moving my body again, I thought about that. I thought about those days I couldn't run or jump, how lucky we are to do what we do. Just to be here again wearing this [Western Conference Champion] shirt, wear this [NBA Finals] hat, I mean, I dreamt of this."see."
Doncic said: 'I don't like losing, especially not like this.
"I played terrible. But if we're talking about our season, I'm really proud of this team. ... Nobody had us here. But I promise we fought until the end.''
The NBA Finals will begin on June 3, 2022.

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