Back to the wall, Dallas had to win to avoid a sweep in this Western Conference final.

It's done, and rather well done, because, apart from a jump in the last quarter, Golden State did not really exist in this N.4 match, for which it certainly had the right to misstep.

The Texan team led 3 to 1, its "recovery" mission remains nonetheless impossible in the light of history, because never has a team beaten in the first three matches then succeeded in winning the last four of an NBA playoff series.

But she will sell her skin dearly on Thursday in California, bearing in mind her ability to thwart the odds, as in match N.7 won in Phoenix in the previous round (4-3).

"We know it's only going to be one game at a time. We found a way to win tonight. We have to do it on the road. We know that in Golden State it's hard to win, but we have already won there (in the regular season, editor's note). We just have to continue to take care of the ball, make good shots, "summarized coach Jason Kidd.

"Stay together"

After the three defeats conceded at the start of the series, Dallas star Luka Doncic had in turn called on his teammates to weigh more in attack, to defend better too.

He was heard and welcomed it: "Our defense was incredible today. When we play like this, we are a dangerous team. It will be tough, we know that, but we have to stick together".

German Mavericks interior Maxi Kleber against Draymond Green during his team's NBA play-off victory over the Golden State Warriors on May 4, 2022 in Dallas.

Ron Jenkins GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

With 11 winning baskets out of 23 attempted in the first period, the Mavs widened the gap at the break (62-47).

And their lead peaked at 29 units in the third quarter - started a quarter of an hour late due to a water leak from the ceiling of the room - during which the Warriors usually accelerate the pace, either to bend the case or to reverse compromised situations, as in game N.2 after Dallas had led by 19 points.

No “miracle” this time, in the words of Steve Kerr, for whom “Dallas deserved to win”, even if the substitutes (51 points in total) which he launched in the last quarter, returned to - 8 points with more than three minutes remaining, before Doncic took matters into his own hands.

Doncic, from soloist to conductor

Imperial (30 pts, 14 rbds, 9 assists, 2 interceptions, 2 blocks), the Slovenian prodigy first rushed to dunk, before insisting inside, to offer caviars to Reggie Bullock (18 pts), author of the 20th and last banderilla of the match behind the arc (on 43), and to Dorian Finney-Smith (23 pts, 6 rebounds) in the racket, then to finish the job on free throws.

The soloist has thus become a conductor, impeccable in the score, and his musicians have not made a false note, as evidenced by this 50% overall success in shooting.

Jalen Brunson brought 15 points (5 assists) and the substitutes also contributed, like Maxi Kleber (13 pts, 8 rebounds) and Frenchman Frank Ntilikina (5 pts, 1 assist, 1 interception), very active in defense.

Warriors star Stephen Curry scored 20 points in Golden State's NBA playoff loss to Dallas on May 24, 2022. Ron Jenkins GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Opposite, certainly without demerit, Stephen Curry (20 pts at 7/16, 8 assists), Andrew Wiggins (13 pts), Klay Thompson (12 pts) have never given the impression of being able to force things in their favor , as if they accepted somewhere to lose this round and kept it under the sole for Thursday's game N.5 at home in San Francisco.

© 2022 AFP