NBA legend Charles Berkeley has never been a favorite of the Bay Area parochial crowd, but the situation almost got worse after the Golden State Warriors punched their ticket to the NBA Finals.
While the post-game panel was discussing the competition, where the Warriors saw the Dallas Mavericks win the series in five games, Berkeley was furious when he threw something at her live on air.
Collaborative TNT hosts Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith asked Berkeley to sit down while Shakil was watching O’Neill.
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Berkeley had previously said that he wanted to win the Mavericks series because of the dislike of Warriors fans.
But Clay Thompson, Steve Curry and Drymond Green got the last laugh.
With the clock ticking at the last second, Thompson began to dance on the sidelines before moving away in tears during a celebration with his teammates.
After two major surgeries and two years of difficult rehabilitation, Thompson is back in form and leading the Golden State Warriors to the final.
Thompson changed his course at 32 points and the Warriors advanced to their sixth final of the last eight seasons, beating the Dallas Mavericks 120-110.
“It’s really hard to put into words,” Thompson said. “This time last year, I started jogging again and started getting on the court. Now I feel like myself, feeling explosive, feeling confident in my movements, I’m just grateful.”
Thompson tore his left ACL during a season-ending game six loss in the 2019 NBA Finals against Toronto and then tore his right Achilles tendon just before the 2020-21 season began. With Golden State missing after missing post-season in both seasons, Thompson finally returned to action in January.
The performance against Mavericks shows that he is returning to his old stardom level.
Thompson scored 19 points in the first half, including a three-pointer that he punctuated with Curry’s signature shake as the Warriors advanced to a 17-point halftime lead and the rest of the way to the coast.
“You can see how many were missing in the last few years,” Green said. “We’re lucky to have Clay Thompson back because we know how good he is.”
Andrew Wiggins added 18 points and 10 rebounds, Green added 17 points and Curry added 15 points and nine assists. He was elected MVP of the series.
Luka Donsic overcame a slow start to score 28 points for the Mavericks. Spencer Dinwood added 26.
In a season plagued by back-to-back injuries after missing the 2020 and 2021 playoffs, the Warriors are returning to a familiar stage. They joined the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan in the 1990s, the Magic Johnson’s Lakers in the 1980s, and Bill Russell’s Celtics in the 1950s and 1960s, as the only franchises to reach the NBA Finals at least six times in eight years.
Coach Steve Kerr said: “For our team, our boys, especially the core group, to be part of that six times in eight years, I don’t know what to say.” “It just takes a lot of skill and determination and work.”
The winner of the Eastern Conference final between Boston and Miami will play Golden State.
The Celtics are 3-2 up at home in the Sixes on Saturday (AEST).
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