SAN FRANCISCO — When the Mavericks led the Warriors 100-90 midway via the third quarter, it appeared like something was on the desk. The all-time document for factors in a recreation, the single-game document for 3s, 60 factors for Luka Doncic.
A number of the most excessive data stay intact, however the Warriors and Mavericks mixed for 48 3-pointers — probably the most in any recreation ever. The Warriors matched their franchise document with 27 treys. Doncic dropped a season-high 45 factors to associate with 13 assists and 11 rebounds, and Draymond Inexperienced (21 factors) and Klay Thompson (29 factors) additionally logged their season-highs.
The worst document for the Warriors? Most made 3-pointers in a loss in league historical past.
The sliding Warriors and the surging Mavericks clashed within the Chase Heart, making a scoring explosion and a 143-133 Mavericks victory.
Protection hasn’t been the problem for the Warriors this yr, even of their 2-8 skid, however the Mavericks — who’ve received 12 of 14 — nonetheless ripped them up. The Warriors (14-11) lower a 19-point deficit to 3 within the second half, however by no means proved for any significant stretch that they may get sufficient defensive stops to beat the Mavericks. Even the perfect taking pictures evening in franchise historical past wasn’t sufficient.
“The issue was Luka Doncic,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr mentioned postgame. “He was incredible. Give him credit, give Dallas credit. They’ve got a hell of a team — made the Finals last year. They spread you out. They’re as difficult to guard as anybody. And we tried a lot of different things.”
Twice in as many days, Kerr known as Draymond Inexperienced the perfect defender on the planet. But due to the Warriors’ fixed seek for the fitting mixtures and the perfect methods to maximise Jonathan Kuminga, Kerr had Earth’s biggest defender on the bench because the Mavericks began the sport 9-for-9 from the sector.
The scorching Mavericks acquired no matter they wished, each within the halfcourt and transition. Doncic poured in 15 factors in his first six minutes. Buddy Hield and Lindy Waters III frolicked making an attempt to remain in entrance of Kyrie Irving — a troublesome activity for even the perfect perimeter defenders within the league.
A Quentin Grimes nook 3 off a beautiful skip go from Doncic punctuated the quarter, with Dallas taking pictures 65.4% from the sector and 61.5% from 3. They piled on 46 factors within the body — probably the most a Warriors opponent has scored in any quarter this yr.
Inexperienced, paradoxically on offense, prevented an entire onslaught. He nailed three nook 3s, igniting a 12-3 run.
Doncic continued to generate large open appears to be like for others whereas creating his personal shot. Within the first half alone, he logged 28 factors, 9 assists and eight boards.
As phenomenal as Doncic was, the Warriors hung round. With Dallas doubling Steph Curry on each ball display screen, he and Kevon Looney picked aside the Mavericks’ protection within the brief roll. Hield drilled three 3s and Jonathan Kuminga took benefit of the sport turning right into a monitor meet.
After Hield’s third 3 within the second quarter, Mavs coach Jason Kidd known as a timeout. Regardless of taking pictures the lights out, his group was solely up 10.
The Warriors double-teamed Doncic just like the Mavericks blitzed Curry, forcing it out of his palms. They nonetheless wanted their finest 3-point taking pictures efficiency of the yr to hold tight, and so they acquired it.
Inexperienced’s fourth 3 of the sport gave Golden State 18 within the first half — a franchise document for any half. Inexperienced and Curry knocked down 4, with Andrew Wiggins and Hield hitting three apiece.
Within the ludicrous offensive setting, the Warriors trailed 81-74 at halftime.
Even with how disastrous the beginning of the sport went, Kerr opted to deliver Inexperienced off the bench once more to start the second half. Naturally, Dallas crossed the 100-point threshold in 5 minutes. An insane Doncic step-back 3 over Wiggins pushed his stat line to a 41-point triple-double.
The Warriors lastly acquired a string of stops on the finish of the third quarter for a 9-0 run Kuminga punctuated with a breakaway jam. The Warriors focused Spencer Dinwiddie in isolations and Lindy Waters III stripped him on protection.
However midway via the fourth, as Curry sat, the Mavericks made their ending transfer. Doncic flexed in entrance of the primary row after an and-1, then Thompson caught out his tongue after drilling a 3 from the identical spot. Their buckets sandwiched a brutal turnover from Brandin Podziemski within the nook on the finish of the shot clock and gave Dallas a 12-point cushion.
That was the tip of Podziemski’s evening, and primarily for the Warriors, too. It formally ended with Thompson, the franchise legend in greener pastures, celebrating at midcourt and to fanfare exterior of the customer’s tunnel.
His former group is spiraling, though reinforcements within the form of Dennis Schroder are on the way in which.
“Really proud of our guys,” Kerr mentioned. “They continue to fight night in and night out. We’ve lost eight out of 10 and there’s zero quit. There’s some disappointment, but there’s zero quit. And we’re going to climb out of this because of the character and competitiveness of our guys.”
Initially Printed: December 15, 2024 at 7:58 PM PST
