Warriors strut past Mavericks in Game 1

Andrew Wiggins was an All-Star starter because of the fan vote.

But – and it’s easy to forget amid his struggles since the All-Star break – his play on the court early in the season made him a legitimate All-Star candidate.

Wiggins returned to that form Wednesday, scoring 19 points and diligently defending Luka Doncic to help the Warriors beat the Mavericks 112-87 in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

As Dallas dismantled the elite Suns and Golden State struggled to put away the Ja Morant-less Grizzlies in the second round, sentiment turned. Dallas became a trendy NBA Finals pick, including by plenty of sharp analysts.

But this lopsided result establishes the Warriors as clear favorite in this series, if not to win the championship. Though momentum could shift back as soon as Game 2 Friday, Golden State did so much to reassure doubters.

Wednesday, the celebration began early in the third quarter, when Stephen Curry (21 points) hit a 3-pointer to cap a 10-0 run that ended the game’s competitive portion. Then, he danced:

Dancing Steph has arrived