Without making any noise, and especially without the Irving-Davis tandem, the Mavericks recorded a 4th victory in a row, their best series of their season. Facing the Warriors without Jimmy Butler, Jason Kidd’s players won 123-115 and returned to the gates of the Top 10 in the Western Conference.
The match started in a very messy manner to the point that the Warriors waited more than three minutes before scoring their first points, while the Mavericks only led 6-0. Clearly, both teams struggled to find offensive rhythm, increasing missed shots and turnovers. We have to wait for the replacements to finally see quality basketball with De’Anthony Melton in charge on the Warriors side. The back combines well with Brandin Podziemski and Al Horford, and Golden State takes the lead after 12 minutes (27-24).
In the second quarter, the Warriors still lacked skill but they remained in contact thanks to free throws. Dallas, despite numerous turnovers, began to attack better, dominating the rebound and taking advantage of counterattacks. The main fact of this 2nd quarter is the exit due to injury of Jonathan Kuminga, hit in an ankle and a knee while he was flying to the circle… Before leaving a few seconds later, he made his two throws to give a six-point lead (45-39). This is the turning point of the half, since the Mavericks respond with a 12-0 to take control with a very active Cooper Flagg in defense. It’s Max Christie who pulls out all the stops in attack to allow Dallas to reach the break with a five-point lead (55-50).
Kuminga injured, Green excluded…
While we learned that Kuminga will have an MRI for his knee, Golden State is coming back very strong. An 8-0 launched by Moses Moody allows them to regain the advantage (58-55). Dallas seems to have better control of the game with more variety in attack, but what to do when Stephen Curry catches fire? The All-Star point guard scored 13 points in the quarter, restoring momentum to his team. At the end of the third quarter, the Warriors turned things around to lead 89-84.
In a much more pleasant encounter than at the start of the match, the Mavericks then toughened up the game, slowed down the pace and imposed constant pressure. The turning point comes when Draymond Green is punished with yet another flagrant foul. In the process, Dallas signs an 11-0 to make the break (113-101), and Green will end up being excluded four minutes from the end. Exhausted and unable to find offensive or defensive solutions, the Warriors will let the match slip away… Opposite, the Mavericks managed the last minutes to win without trembling with PJ Washington for the painful 3-pointer, and Marshall for the reassuring free throws.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
10 000e. Top scorer of the match with 38 points, Stephen Curry made history by becoming the first NBA player to attempt more than 10,000 3-point shots in his career. After this meeting, Curry is at 4,222 baskets on 10,007 attempts, or 42.1%.
Kuminga shines then comes out. While his name is circulating on the Dallas side, Jonathan Kuminga apparently injured his ankle and knee on a penetration into the axis. What is worrying is that he is injured on impulse, and that is not a good sign… Before that, he had been perfect with 10 points in 9 minutes at 100% shooting.
You grand Marshall. With 30 points and 9 assists, Naji Marshall equaled his season records, and the Warriors never found a solution to slow him down. It’s him who hurts in the 4th quarter at the heart of a decisive 11-0 to make the break.
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
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