It’s been a while since the Dallas Mavericks have won a road game against the Golden State Warriors. Not “a while” as in how long it has been since you went to the dentist, but “a while” as in April 12th, 2012.
The Mavericks starters were Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Brendan Haywood and Delonte West that night. David Lee scored 30 points to lead the Warriors in a 112-103 defeat. Barack Obama was still in his first term as President. James Harden was still the lovable third option in the Kevin Durant/Russell Westbrook/Harden trio on the verge of a trip to the Finals in Oklahoma City. Electricity was about to be invented…
It has been a LONG time since the Mavs have walked out of Oracle Arena victorious, and the odds are definitely stacked against them to break that trend when they take on the Warriors there Thursday night.
Despite losing three of their last four contests, including a thumping at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, it has been business as usual for the Warriors this season. At 41-13, they’re not going to challenge their own 73-9 record for wins in a season from two years ago, but they’re winning at a high rate and doing it without their stars playing every game.
Steph Curry has missed 15 games and Durant 8 games as well, but they are still half a game up on the Houston Rockets for the top spot in the Western Conference standings.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Mavs will enter Thursday night’s game with the worst record in the Western Conference following their collapse down the stretch Monday night against the Clippers. The bottom of the standings are pretty packed, though, and a victory here or there could easily catapult the Mavericks all around the last few spots in the standings.
When these two teams last met on January 3rd in Dallas, the Mavs had their hearts broken by Steph Curry on a game winning three pointer with just three seconds left. Dallas was lucky to even be close, frankly, as they trailed by as many as ten points late in the fourth quarter.
Thursday is also the NBA trade deadline and the Mavs are thought to be one of the teams that could make a move or two before the 3 PM buzzer. Who knows what their roster will look like by tip-off.
On the injury front, Harrison Barnes is questionable after missing Monday night’s game with an ankle injury.
Stay tuned to Dallas Sports Fanatic all day Thursday for Mavs coverage of the trade deadline and Dallas/Golden State later at night.
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