The much-anticipated Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors game finally occurred on Tuesday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California. Klay Thompson and the Mavericks faced Stephen Curry and the Warriors for the first time this season. Thompson’s recent press conference downplayed the hoopla in the Warriors’ honoring of the former star. Still, Golden State uncorked a celebration for Thompson.
The Mavericks fell to the Warriors 120-117 on the road. Dallas dropped to 5-6, while Golden State improved to 9-2. Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 31 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Klay Thompson followed up with 22 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Kyrie Irving added 21 points, three rebounds, and six assists. Daniel Gafford had 15 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Dereck Lively II scored 12 points, eight rebounds, and two assists.
Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors Recap
The Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors game was action-packed from start to finish. Dallas’ injury report listed Luka Doncic as active but dealing with a left groin strain, Dereck Lively II as active with a right shoulder sprain, Maxi Kleber as active with a right hamstring strain, PJ Washington as out with a right knee sprain, and Dante Exum as out after having right wrist surgery.
Meanwhile, Golden State’s injury report was rather light. Andrew Wiggins was listed as available but was dealing with a lower back strain. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green were listed as available. The battles between Curry and Doncic will always be one of the most fun matchups in the NBA, but all eyes were on Thompson’s return to the Bay Area.
The Mavericks’ starting lineup consisted of Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, and Daniel Gafford. The Doncic assignment was rather daunting for the Warriors, as Doncic’s one of the largest scoring threats in the NBA. The Warriors’ goal remains the same: just avoid letting the Slovenian big man dictate the tempo and orchestrate his team’s offense.
The first quarter was a high-scoring affair between the Mavericks and Warriors, but the Warriors came out on top with a 33-27 lead over the Mavericks at the end of the first. The second quarter was also a namesake affair, but Dallas was rather dominant this time around. The Mavericks settled for a 63-59 lead against the Warriors at the halftime break.
The third quarter saw the Warriors’ scoring surge, overpowering the Mavericks’ scoring attempts for a bit. Stephen Curry came alive in the third, as the Warriors went on a 13-0 run in 2:30. The Warriors held on for a 96-89 lead against the Mavericks after three quarters. The fourth quarter faced a do-or-die situation, as Dallas tied the game at 98-98 and Golden State maintained a steady pace. The Warriors’ balanced effort was enough to fend off the Mavericks for a 120-117 win in regulation.
Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors Highlights
The Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors game was full of highlights, such as the Warriors’ home crowd saluting Klay Thompson during the team’s “Salute Captain Klay” ceremony. In addition, 400 Warriors employees cheered upon Thompson’s arrival at the Chase Center to show their love and appreciation for the former Warriors star.
For the Mavericks, Klay Thompson scored the first bucket in the return game in the first quarter. Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic hit three-pointers to increase the Mavericks’ lead for a bit. Irving has been a force and an offensive threat in just about any court, while Doncic has been smooth. Jazian Gortman hit the rim for a rim shot. And, for the Warriors, Andrew Wiggins’ second-quarter rim shot was sky-high. De’Anthony Melton’s craft was noticeable on the Warriors’ side of the court, whether a three-pointer or a point off a turnover.
Final Thoughts
Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets outdueled Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks in Sunday night’s 122-120 win at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. Jokic countered Irving’s stellar showing with a massive effort of his own, and Michael Porter Jr.’s clutch 14-foot floating jump shot stole a shocking victory with 6.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Despite the Mavericks’ tough loss, Kyrie Irving had an amazing stat line after hitting six of eight three-pointers against the Nuggets. Irving only looked in the mirror and analyzed what went wrong after the game. Irving told the media, “I got to be better in the fourth quarter … In the past few fourth quarters, I’ve turned the ball over down the stretch. I just got to be more organized.”
Regardless of one’s fandom, Sunday night’s game between the Mavericks and Nuggets was fun to watch. Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic dribbled, passed, and provided ground-bound proof for the fans. The two Europeans play the game with similar skill sets. The pair’s ability to confuse opposing coaches is another similarity, despite different upbringings in Slovenia and Serbia, two European countries about 638 kilometers (396 miles) apart.
The Mavericks will travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, to take on the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Mountain time. The Delta Center, presented by Delta Air Lines, has hosted the Jazz since 1991 and the NHL’s Utah Hockey Club since 2024. The Delta Arena’s seating capacity is 18,306 for basketball, 16,200 for hockey, and 7,000 for theater.
