In a hard-fought showdown at the American Airlines Center on Thursday night, the Dallas Mavericks edged the Golden State Warriors 123–115 as both teams battled through offensive runs and late-game drama.
The victory improved Dallas’ standing to 19–26, while the Warriors slipped to 25–21 on the season.
Curry Shines, But Mavericks Get Balanced Attack
Despite a scintillating performance from Stephen Curry, who finished with 38 points on a scoring tear, the Mavericks were able to keep pace and ultimately secure the victory.
Curry’s scoring barrage through much of the night kept Golden State within striking distance, but Dallas’ collective effort proved decisive.
Dallas countered Curry with a big night from Naji Marshall, who posted 30 points to lead all Mavericks scorers.
Rookie Cooper Flagg also made a significant impact, contributing 21 points and 11 rebounds as part of a strong second unit performance that kept the Mavericks competitive throughout.
Game Flow and Key Turning Points
The Mavericks built a slight edge early, taking a 55–50 advantage at halftime thanks to strong rebounding and transition play.
Dallas continued to assert itself on the boards and converted opportunities around the rim that helped sustain its lead.
Golden State briefly took control in the third quarter, flipping a five-point deficit into an 89–84 lead behind Curry’s 13-point burst.
However, Dallas responded with a dominant 24–5 fourth-quarter run that ultimately put the game out of reach.
Their relentless defensive pressure and improved execution in crunch time proved to be the difference.
Warriors’ Struggles Without Key Contributors
The Warriors continue to feel the absence of key pieces, with Steph Curry shouldering much of the offensive load and others struggling to find consistency.
Jonathan Kuminga, who had returned from a long absence, exited the game early due to knee soreness, further thinning Golden State’s rotation and complicating their efforts to keep pace late.
Looking Ahead
For the Mavericks, the win highlights the team’s depth and promise from young contributors like Flagg and Marshall.
Still, Dallas’ 21 turnovers underscored ongoing ball-handling concerns that will need to be addressed as the season progresses.
The Warriors, meanwhile, will aim to regroup and find more reliable secondary scoring to support Curry, particularly as they navigate games without injured veterans.
