SAN FRANCISCO – Sunday was not a very good day at the office for the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavs turned the ball over too much, got beat up on the boards and failed to overcome an early 16-0 run by Golden State en route to losing to the Warriors, 126-102, before a sellout crowd of 18,064 at Chase Center. Afterwards, Mavs guard Kyrie Irving said: “I feel like they gave us their best shot.
“In the effort and statistical categories, they pretty much dominated. They came out with a verve, they came out with a focus and they really took it to us.”
The Warriors led by 15 points after the first quarter, by 17 points at halftime and by 29 points (111-82) early in the fourth quarter in running away with this game. Those uncharacteristic 18 turnovers by Dallas, which led to 30 points for the Warriors, didn’t help the Mavs’ cause.
And it was a 16-0 run by the Warriors – after Dallas led, 9-4 – that had the Mavs on their heels all day. During that run, the Mavs were 0-of-8 from the field and committed three turnovers.
“We had some good looks there that we just didn’t capitalize on, and they took advantage of some miscues defensively and they went on that run,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “We just didn’t close quarters well this afternoon.
“We were stuck in between crashing (the boards) and not crashing, so we have to be better in that transition game. We just played them and they came out aggressive and they hit us and we just never could recover from that.”
Irving agreed.
“Just high-level basketball took place,” he said. “Possessions were a little empty for us, and then they got out in transition. Any time you give this team a lot of points in transition – they had 18 fast break points going into halftime — they’re really confident in the rhythm of their offense and I feel like they just carried over into the second half. Once you got the lead, they never looked back, which is what good teams do.”
The loss dropped the Mavs to 31-27 entering Tuesday’s game in Los Angeles against the Lakers. Meanwhile, the victory moved the Warriors (30-27) within half-a-game of the Mavs for eighth place in the Western Conference standings.
P. J. Washington and Irving paced the Mavs with 17 points apiece, while Klay Thompson and Jaden Hardy each scored 11 points. Stephen Curry led Golden State with 30 points and seven assists, Jimmy Butler tallied 18 points in his home debut for the Warriors. Brandin Podziemski contributed 17 points and 13 rebounds,
Curry got loose for consecutive three-pointers in the third quarter and the Mavs just couldn’t contain him.
“He’s one of the best players in the world and he got going this afternoon behind the arc and also getting to the basket,” Kidd said. “I thought early on we were doing a good job. But once you relax, he’s going to get the better of you, and he did that this afternoon.”
The Warriors are now 5-1 since they acquired Butler in a trade with the Miami Heat earlier this month.
“He makes his decisions quickly, but he’s never in a hurry, and so he just doesn’t turn it over,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, referring to Butler. “What that does for us is it settles the game down, but it also opens things up on the backend of the possession for Steph, because as we know Steph is so powerful in his off-ball movement.
“If the ball just moves one more time in a possession that’s one more decision the defense has to make, one more rotation, one more opportunity for Steph to create something on the backside. I think all of those things that Jimmy is providing is helping some of the things that we’re talking about.”
Golden State led, 111-82, less than four minutes into the fourth quarter, forcing the Mavs to call it a day and rest their regulars. On the Warriors’ 16-0 run, Washington said: “They got in transition, made threes, got offensive rebounds (and) we turned the ball over a lot. A lot of things we could have done better to get a win, but credit to them.
“They made shots tonight and they played like they wanted to win. They’re a really good transition team, they pass the ball very well, they play together on the offensive end, and when they get offensive rebounds it just ignites their game.”
The Warriors outrebounded the Mavs, 54-42, including 17-8 on the offensive end. They also outscored the Mavs in fast break points, 30-11.
Obviously, the Mavs not having centers Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress fracture) and Daniel Gafford (right MCL sprain), forwards Anthony Davis (strained left
adductor) and Dwight Powell (right hip strain) and guard Caleb Martin (strained hip) were factors in this game. In addition, the Warriors got 15 more attempts at the basket – 98 to 83 – than the Mavs, which made things even more difficult.
Irving was just 7-of-19 from the field, and the Mavs couldn’t figure out how to come out with some more offense once his shot wasn’t falling and while the Warriors were crowding him.
“When we’re giving Kai the ball – obviously teams are loading up on him – and then it takes a little hit of time for us to get him the ball,” Washington said. “So, it just kind of eats up the shot clock.
“I think if we move the ball and just get him in different positions it’s going to be harder for teams to guard him.”
And with Curry constantly moving and converting 12-of-20 shots, he makes it harder for teams to guard him.
“He shoots with the best of them,” Washington said. “Obviously, you got to be up and he brings so much attention to him when he’s making shots. It just opens up everything for their offense.”
Also, those costly turnovers didn’t help the Mavs.
“We do a fairly good job taking care of the basketball,” Irving said. “A few rotations on their end put us in some tough spots. You got to give them credit.
“They were pressuring the basketball, picking us up above the three-point line, forcing me into double-teams and triple-teams, and just making other guys make shots. When you’re trying to make plays, sometimes turnovers are going to happen. But we got to take care of the ball, especially when on their home floor.”
X: @DwainPrice
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