Mavs Game Observations: Game 26 @ Warriors

Scary hours: When Mavs are firing on all cylinders

Photo by Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

With both teams rested and ample time to prepare, this matchup promised a high-intensity, playoff-like battle in the trenches.

Instead, we witnessed a shooting clinic of historical proportions. Both teams lit it up from deep, shooting over 50% from three on high volume. The Mavericks ultimately outgunned the Warriors in a jaw-dropping 144-133 shootout—an outcome more reminiscent of an All-Star Game than a regular-season clash, with defense often looking optional to add to that feel.

This game served as a reminder of how spectacular NBA stars can be when they’re not bogged down by grueling travel schedules or back-to-back games. It also offered a glimpse of just how dangerous this Mavericks offense can be when all their core pieces are firing on all cylinders.

After a setback in OKC, the Mavericks returned to their winning ways with their 12th victory in the last 14 games. With the schedule looking favorable to close out the year, the vibes couldn’t be anything but immaculate.

Note: There are some very positive Mavericks trends developing, and I took a deeper look at them in point three of today's observations.

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Today’s notes:

1. Luka Dončić is back to being an issue

2. When Luka bends the defense, Klay can break it apart

3. Is the three-point renaissance sustainable? With Luka, Kyrie, and Klay, it just might be 📈

4. Klay: The ultimate clutch pick-and-roll weapon (🎞️VIDEO)

5. Different tactic, but unfortunately the same result on defense

Bonus point: Winning the rebounding battle

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1-Luka Dončić is back to being an issue

The Warriors came into the game as a top-five defensive team—or at least they were, until the Mavericks dropped 144 points on them, knocking them down two spots. When asked postgame about the cause of the Warriors’ worst defensive performance of the season, Steve Kerr was blunt: “The issue was Luka Dončić.”

Dončić had his best game of the season, dominating and setting the tone from the very first possession. The Mavericks scored on their first 10 possessions, and Dončić closed the game with a spectacular 45-point, 13-assist, 11-rebound, 3-steal, 2-block triple-double.

Maybe Dončić took issue with Draymond Green saying on his last podcast that Kyrie Irving is harder to guard than him. Part of the issue could be that Green started the game on the bench and wasn’t there to set the tone. Regardless of the reason, once Dončić started rolling, despite Kerr throwing every possible defensive coverage at him, nothing seemed to matter.

What does matter for Dallas is that a dominant Dončić is back. In the six games since returning from his five-game injury absence, Dončić has been averaging 31 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals per game while shooting an impressive 43% from three.

2-When Luka bends the defense, Klay can break it apart

Nobody on this Mavericks team likely benefits more from Dončić returning to dominant form—constantly putting pressure on the defense—than Klay Thompson.

When Dončić sets the tone early by scoring, as he did last night (or when teams decide to trap him from the jump, like OKC did), he forces the defense to commit two defenders to the ball. This creates 4-on-3 situations for his teammates, giving them plenty of open looks and opportunities to capitalize.

Thompson’s last two games in these setups? More than 10 three-point attempts in each, shooting a scorching 12-of-21 from beyond the arc. Last night was undoubtedly Thompson's best game of the season, as he scored a season-high 29 points, including three clutch three-point daggers and a total of 13 fourth-quarter points to silence his old teammates and his former arena.

3-Is the three-point shooting sustainable? With Luka, Kyrie and Klay, it just might be 📈

The Mavericks shot the lights out last night, but it wasn’t an outlier—they’ve been doing this consistently for the past month.

Since November 15th, the Mavericks have been the NBA’s best three-point shooting team, hitting 45.1% from beyond the arc. For comparison, the Knicks, who rank second during this span, are shooting 41.9%.