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Steve Kerr (right) hugs Draymond Green
Photo: Jeff Chiu/AP
The Golden State Warriors have qualified for the 2022 NBA Finals.
The team from San Francisco won the fifth game of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday (local time) against the Dallas Mavericks 120:110 (69:52) and included Dirk Nowitzki's former club in the "Best-of seven" series 4:1 out.
The Warriors are in the North American Pro League finals series for the first time since 2019.
Klay Thompson led the Warriors with 32 points and eight three-pointers sunk.
Thompson had 19 points at half-time as a strong second quarter gave the Warriors a 17-point lead.
The Mavs were always trailing behind after the break.
When the visitors were on twelve points three minutes from time, Thompson made the decision with his eighth and final three.
Curry Most Valuable Player in the Western Conference
Stephen Curry's 15 points was his lowest of the series against Dallas, but the superstar's average of 23.8 points and 7.4 assists earned him the Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player award.
Luka Doncic scored 28 points with the Mavs, while German national basketball player Maxi Kleber had seven points and eight rebounds.
In the run-up to the game, head coach Steve Kerr caused a stir when, in a well-received press conference, he made serious accusations against the US senators after the shooting spree at a school in Uvalde.
"I'm so tired of it," said the 56-year-old, close to tears.
“I'm so tired of sitting here sending best wishes to the devastated families.
I'm so tired of the minutes of silence.
Enough!".
The speech shared by his club on social media has been clicked more than a million times on Twitter alone.
Finals against Boston or Miami
The Warriors have won all nine home games in these playoffs so far.
They have also reached the finals for the sixth time in the past eight years.
The Chicago Bulls around basketball legend Michael Jordan last recorded such a run in the NBA between 1991 and 1998. "It's a blessing," said Curry about entering the final series, where the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat are waiting.
"That's where we belong: in the NBA Finals."
mfu/dpa