Mavericks blow out Curry-less Warriors, 114-91
Interim head coach Luke Walton of the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry #30 during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on December 30, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP
DALLAS — Even if Klay Thompson had been making shots with Stephen Curry sidelined by a leg injury, the other half of the Splash Brothers knew Golden State would have a hard time winning.
With Thompson not hitting, the Warriors got blown out in just their second loss of the season.
J.J. Barea scored 23 points in another big game filling in for injured point guard Deron Williams, and the Dallas Mavericks rolled to a 114-91 victory over a Golden State team missing the NBA’s leading scorer and reigning MVP.
“That’s 30 points and a lot of playmaking, so we’ve just got to collectively try and chip in,” said Thompson, who had 10 points while matching Draymond Green with 4-of-15 shooting, with Green scoring 11. “We had great looks. It was just one of those nights.”
Curry has a bruised lower left leg and might sit again Thursday at Houston. But the Warriors (29-2) still have the best 31-game start in NBA history – a game better than four teams – after their record 24-0 start.
“They were a little short-handed tonight. Might have made a little difference,” Dallas guard Devin Harris said. “The attention that he brings in shotmaking and the way the offense flows with him out there, obviously was a little bit different tonight.”
Zaza Pachulia had 14 points and 15 rebounds for the Mavericks, who won their fourth straight game without Williams. Dirk Nowitzki added 18 points and eight boards.
The Warriors looked out of sorts almost from the beginning with their sharpshooting star watching from the bench in jeans and a black sport coat.
Marreese Speights threw a pass into the first row in the first half, drawing a rebuke from Ian Clark, the intended target who led Golden State with 21 points.
And Brandon Rush didn’t play much defense against Nowitzki. First, he let the 7-foot, 37-year-old German go by him for a rare two-handed dunk, and soon after left him alone at the 3-point line for a 75-49 Dallas lead midway through the third quarter.
The 23-point margin was Golden State’s worst defeat since a 31-point loss to Houston in 2013, according to STATS. The worst loss during the title run last season was 15.
The Mavericks went up by 30 at 83-53 on a 3-pointer by Wesley Matthews, who had 13 points. The Warriors, who fell behind for good with 8 minutes left in the first quarter, didn’t get closer than 17 after that.
Thompson didn’t play in the fourth quarter with a mid-afternoon start against the Rockets looming, and interim coach Luke Walton went with reserves for the last 5 minutes in Golden State’s third straight loss without Curry. The first two were last season.
“He’s one of those rare players in this league that affects the entire game just by being on the court,” Walton said. “Obviously without him the spacing won’t be as good.”
Red-hot Barea
Barea, who has been starting while Williams sits with a left hamstring strain, had at least 23 points for the third time in four games. He is 17 of 22 from 3-point range in those games after going 5 of 7 against the Warriors.
“J.J.’s been great, shooting the ball incredibly well but taking good shots,” Harris said.
Curry’s not the only one
The Warriors also were without center Festus Ezeli (toe injury), while guard Leandro Barbosa (left shoulder sprain) and forward Harrison Barnes (sprained left ankle) didn’t make the quick Texas trip.
“I think people forget we’ve got like four guys out,” said Andre Iguodala, who had 12 points. “We’ve been playing at such a high level, that gets overlooked sometimes.”
Count it, or don’t
The Warriors matched a season high by allowing 14 3-pointers on 52 percent shooting. It was almost 15. Harris, who scored 13, banked in a half-court shot at the third-quarter buzzer, but the ruling that it was after the horn was quickly confirmed by a replay review.
