In a thrilling matchup, the Dallas Mavericks triumphed over the Golden State Warriors with a score of 123-115, marking their fourth consecutive victory - a season best. This win comes at a challenging time for the Warriors, who have now lost both games since star player Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Naji Marshall truly shone during the game, matching his personal season highs by scoring 30 points and dishing out nine assists. Meanwhile, Stephen Curry delivered an impressive performance, contributing 38 points, including 8 successful three-pointers out of 15 attempts. This remarkable feat made him the first player in NBA history to reach the milestone of 10,000 three-point attempts. As of this game, he has successfully landed 4,222 of those shots from beyond the arc.
The Mavericks' rookie sensation, Cooper Flagg, also made a significant impact on the court by scoring 21 points in just 30 minutes of play. This was particularly noteworthy as he was expected to be restricted to 20-25 minutes due to a recent sprained left ankle that had sidelined him for two games. Max Christie matched Flagg’s output with 21 points of his own, while Brandon Williams added 19 off the bench. It’s worth noting that Klay Thompson, despite being a key player for the Warriors, managed only six points, which came from two three-pointers in the first half against his former team.
The game took a pivotal turn in the fourth quarter when the Warriors were leading by a single point. Draymond Green was called for a flagrant foul, igniting a heated argument with the referees. Just moments later, another foul committed by Green went under review but was not categorized as flagrant. Regardless, his frustration was apparent as he headed to the bench. Following this sequence, the Mavericks surged ahead with an 11-0 run that commenced after the flagrant foul incident, ultimately leading to Green fouling out with just 3:50 left in the game.
Jonathan Kuminga managed to score 10 points in a brief 9-minute stint before succumbing to left knee soreness, which occurred when he awkwardly landed after dribbling the length of the court. This game marked Kuminga’s return after a month-long absence where he had fallen out of favor in coach Steve Kerr’s rotation. The injury to Butler opened up an opportunity for Kuminga to make his comeback.
Looking ahead, the Warriors are set to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, beginning a back-to-back series, while the Mavericks will see Luka Doncic take on the Los Angeles Lakers, marking a reunion with his former team.
