Mavs Game Preview: Game 26 @ Warriors

Another playoff-like showdown for the West’s top spots

Photo by Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

It’s another rare December game with an almost playoff-like setup, as both teams come in rested—the Mavericks after a four-day break, with three more days off following this game, and the Warriors after three days of rest, with another three days to recover afterward (hence also a longer preview).

This sets the stage for a high-intensity battle between two teams separated by just one loss in the tight Western Conference standings, currently sitting neck-and-neck in fourth and fifth place.

For the Mavericks, this marks the end of an exhausting travel-heavy stretch—this will be their 13th road game in their last 17 contests. Meanwhile, the Warriors look to halt their slide after losing seven of their last nine games, a stark contrast to their hot start to the season. Both teams are coming off disappointing losses in the NBA Cup quarterfinals and have plenty to prove in what promises to be a marquee matchup.

---

Mavs (16-9) @ Warriors (14-10) game facts

Rest: DAL on 4 days of rest; GSW on 3 days of rest

DAL vs GSW 2024-25 record: 1-0 GSW (see first matchup observations here)

DAL 2024-25 away record: 8-6

GSW 2024-25 home record: 7-4

DAL injuries: Naji Marshall (OUT), Jaden Hardy (OUT), Maxi Kleber (OUT), Dante Exum (OUT)

GSW injuries: Steph Curry (questionable), Andrew Wiggins (questionable), Moses Moody (OUT), De’Anthony Melton (OUT - traded for Dennis Schröder)

GSW projected starting 5: Steph Curry (G), Buddy Hield (G), Andrew Wiggins (questionable) or Gary Payton II (F), Jonathan Kuminga (F), Draynond Green (F)

GSW key reserves: Brandin Podziemski, Kevon Looney, Lindy Waters III, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Kyle Anderson

GSW Rotation:

---

Three key questions heading into the game

1. Are Curry and Wiggins available?

2. Will the Mavericks provide more pressure and contain Curry better than in the first matchup?

3. Can the Mavericks keep the Warriors off the offensive glass?

What we saw / what's changed since last game

You can summarize Dallas' loss in the first matchup—the much-anticipated return of Klay Thompson to the Bay—in four areas: they couldn’t keep Curry in check (he had a season-high 37 points), couldn’t keep Looney and the rest off the offensive glass (Looney had 9 offensive rebounds), were too reckless with the ball (19 turnovers), and struggled with poor clutch execution on both ends.

Curry (neck inflammation) and Wiggins (adductor tightness) are questionable for the Warriors, and Curry's availability, in particular, changes a lot. However, I'll approach this preview as if both are good to go. Also, De'Anthony Melton, who played an important role in the first game, suffered a partially torn left ACL during that matchup and was recently traded for Dennis Schröder.

For Dallas, Naji Marshall is the most notable player on the injured list, but P.J. Washington, who missed the first matchup and the previous game against OKC, will be back in the lineup. Washington's size should be a big boost for Dallas, which had to rely on guard-heavy lineups in the first game and got crushed on the boards by the Warriors.

Mavs on offense | Warriors on defense

The Warriors played aggressive on-ball defense against Dončić screens in the first game, frequently showing two defenders or blitzing. Despite this, Dončić had one of his better games in terms of scoring and creating out of the pick-and-roll. However, there were a few moments where he and his big men were not in sync on whether to execute a short roll or a hard roll to the rim, resulting in turnovers.

On his last podcast, Draymond Green explained how defending Dončić and Irving is always a matter of deciding whether you want them to beat you or force someone else to do it. Steve Kerr is among the coaches who most often lean toward the latter. The good news for Dallas is that they just got plenty of reps against that tactic in their last game against OKC, where Dončić faced the most blitzes he has seen this season. The Mavericks mostly generated good offense, especially in the first half when Dončić was blitzed.