Mavs deal Warriors worst loss in 46 years
Golden State suffers its worst loss since 1973 as Dallas wins big
DALLAS >>
Not four minutes into the first quarter, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic brought the ball up the left side of the floor, checked the distance between him and Golden State Warriors guard Alec Burks,
stepped back and uncorked a 3-pointer. All Burks could do after watching the ball swish through the net was drop his arms, let out an exasperated sigh and jog back on offense.
One night after a feel-good win in Memphis, the Warriors suffered their worst loss since 1973, falling 142-94 to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday at American Airlines Center. The loss was yet another humbling event for a franchise coming off five straight trips to the NBA Finals.
Burks’ long breath came in the face of a historic night by Doncic. With Draymond Green, the Warriors’ top defender a late scratch due to right heel soreness, the 20-year- old MVP candidate finished with 35 points
on 10- of-18 shooting (including 6-of-10 from 3-point range), 11 assists and 10 rebounds in 26 minutes.
In the first quarter alone, Doncic had 22 points, five rebounds and five assists — outperforming the Warriors’ team in all three categories.
According to ESPN, Doncic became the first player to finish a quarter with more points, rebounds and assists than the other team since Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson did it to the Chicago Bulls in February 2003.
By halftime, the Warriors trailed 74-38. As the defense struggled to run interference on Doncic, the offense struggled to keep up, having missed 30 of their 44 shots in the first half.
Doncic used the second quarter to check off another historical milestone. With 33 points on 10- of-11 shooting (including 6 of 7 from 3-point range), six assists and five rebounds in 17 minutes, he became the only player with 30 points and five assists on 90-percent shooting in a half over the last 20 seasons, per ESPN.
This is the issue for a Warriors team missing their most talented players. Without Stephen Curry ( broken left hand), Klay Thompson (ACL), D’Angelo Russell (thumb) and Green, the Warriors lack top- end talent compared to a Mavericks team poised for a playoff run.
Against a team such as Memphis, a strong defensive night, some streaky shooting and a hustling mindset is enough to earn a win. Against a playoff team deep with rotation players and led by one of the most exciting young players in the league, it’s not even close.
Two-way contract guard Ky Bowman started in Green’s place, and finished with 16 points on 7- of-10 shooting and two assists. Bowman, a proponent of guarding full court, did not shy away from guarding Doncic. Coach Steve Kerr has been impressed by the undrafted rookie’s confidence.
Leading the Warriors in scoring was rookie forward Eric Paschall, with 22 points on 8- of-19 shooting to go along with seven rebounds.
Next, the Warriors will go to Utah to play the Jazz on Friday.
• One night after hurting his elbow on a hard fall against the Memphis Grizzlies, Green sat out against Dallas with a sore right heel.
“The elbow is fine,” Kerr said. “He was just banged up, he played 35 minutes last night. He wants to be out there.”
Green, 29, was not listed on the injury report Wednesday afternoon but was considered a gametime decision. After Green went through warm-ups the training staff determined he should not play in the second game of the backto-back set.
Without Green, the Warriors are down to the league-minimum of eight healthy players.
Since returning from a five- game absence with a torn ligament in his finger, Green has provided a veteran presence for a young Warriors team that won its first game in nearly two weeks Tuesday in Memphis.
In the past three games he played, Green logged 34, 32 and 34 minutes. He averaged 31.3 minutes per game last season. As the Warriors deal with injuries to seven — now eight — players, everyone has had to play more minutes.
When discussing Green’s injury, Kerr said the Warriors will consider strategically finding him off days throughout the season.
Green is averaging 8.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game this season.