The Warriors are no slouch against the Mavericks

Anthony Davis shot in the groin, Mavericks lost 126-116 to Golden State where the team was outstanding with seven players scoring 10 or more points to answer Cooper Flagg’s 27 points and Brandon Williams’ 26. This is the third win in a row for Warriors.

The Mavericks decided to force a slow tempo by looking to play first against Anthony Davis, but he missed his first two shots, allowing Golden State to take advantage. The quarter was a mess: The Warriors scored 7 of their first 11 points at the free throw line, while Dallas kept in touch thanks to a few turnovers. Davis continues to struggle, and it’s Max Christy who keeps the Mavericks (18-18) in touch. The moment Al Horford chose to step out of his box. The interior makes 4 3-point shots and the Warriors take off (40-28).

The same scenario at the start of the 2nd quarter: no opening shots for Dallas, while Golden State connects good positions with movement and the search for the extra pass (53-42). But the worst part is that Anthony Davis injures his groin on the counter attack. A hard hit that forced Dallas to restart Daniel Gafford, who was immediately targeted by the defense.
Golden State insists and takes full advantage: Horford and Trace Jackson-Davis combine to shoot 8/10 against Gafford. Offensive bursts by Flagg and Marshall limit the damage, but Dallas returns to the locker room with a 13-point deficit (71-58).

Faulty circuit protection

Returning from the locker room, the defensive disaster continues. Stephen Curry scores two layups to further increase the difference (75-60). In the Copper Flag relay, Brandon Williams had a great night, but the defense remained very problematic. The Mavericks are late on every move, and Draymond Green is the one who punishes near the circle (85-74). Williams insists, and it takes a great Jimmy Butler to allow the Warriors to take an 11-point lead (100-89) before the start of the final quarter.

The Mavericks are trailing and Klay Thompson dunks Flagg to start the 4th quarter. The duo does damage, and on Williams’ layup, after a steal, the Mavericks are at -5 (104-99). But the return of Gafford, not mobile enough, breaks the whole dynamic: a stupid mistake on a 3-point shot, another basket, then back to the bench. Behind, Curry makes his second 3-pointer to find that famous 11-point lead (115-104). There are still three minutes left in the game, and two new unsuccessful rotations in the defense allow Butler and then De Anthony Melton to finish the affair (126-116).

WHAT TO REMEMBER

Davis still injured… Once again, Fizik Anthony Davis has failed, and this time it is a groin injury. The interior of the Mavericks didn’t have a great night, but a possible extended absence could damage the team’s dynamic.

Victorious return for Horford. Out for six games with sciatica, Horford is the X-factor of the game with his big pass at the end of the first quarter: 4 of 4 from 3-point range! He is the one who puts the Warriors on the right track.

Remove cumin… The Warriors collective shined with a big contribution from the bench, and Jonathan Kuminga was not part of the party. In “money time”, it was the Peyton-Melton duo that tended to debate with plenty of activity on both sides of the court.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Difference of points when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.