Mavericks at Warriors
The Dallas Mavericks are one of the few teams to defeat Golden State
this season and will take aim at halting the Warriors' long homecourt
winning streak on Wednesday. Golden State has won 39 consecutive home
games — five behind the NBA record set by the Chicago Bulls (1995-96) — after dismantling the San Antonio Spurs 120-90 on Monday.
Dallas rolled to a 114-91 home victory over the Warriors on Dec. 30 to end a seven-game losing streak in the series. The Mavericks led by as many as 30 points and connected on 14 3-pointers while making the defending NBA champions look like mere mortals. Golden State thrashed San Antonio — the NBA's second-best team — in every area during the huge showdown that the Warriors approached as a statement game. "Every time we have an opportunity to prove who we are and take another step in the journey, we're ready for it," standout guard Stephen Curry told reporters. "It wasn't always that way. This core has been together for a while and understands how to mentally prepare for nights like this."
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, FSN Southwest (Dallas), CSN Bay Area (Golden State)
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (26-21): The Mavericks are just 7-8 in January and were pushed to the end by the lowly Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday before escaping with a 92-90 road victory. Veteran forward Dirk Nowitzki drained the tiebreaking baseline jumper with 2.1 seconds left to save a Dallas team that tallied just 15 fourth-quarter points. Small forward Chandler Parsons had 17 points against Los Angeles and is averaging 26.5 points during the past four contests.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (41-4): Curry missed the loss to Dallas with a leg injury but is back at full strength now and he scored 37 points in the rout of the Spurs. The reigning MVP often appears unstoppable and has scored 30 or more points in seven of the past nine games and has made 56 3-point baskets during the stretch. "He has ridiculous shooting range, and it distorts the whole chessboard," Golden State coach Steve Kerr told reporters. "Defensively, you have to commit so far out there that it creates angles for other guys. He's so good putting the ball on the floor and getting into the creases."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Warriors have won their last five home games against Dallas.
2. Dallas C Zaza Pachulia (Achilles) has sat out the past two games and is questionable for Wednesday's tilt.
3. Golden State backup PG Shaun Livingston is 16-of-20 shooting in the past four games.