Mavericks at Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are still fighting for the top spot in the Western Conference, but the team doesn't seem as dominant as it has in the past four seasons. The Warriors will try to avoid back-to-back losses and find the joy in their game when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.
The Warriors struggled to 40 percent from the floor at Utah on Wednesday while Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson were the only players to score in double figures. "A lot of it's just getting our edge and a chip on our shoulder," Curry told reporters after the 108-103 setback. "Having that vibe when you walk on the floor like we know what we're about to do. Right now, we're still thinking a little bit and trying to figure it out, but we're close." The Mavericks are slumping with losses in four straight games and surrendered at least 120 points in each of the last three, capped by a 125-121 setback at the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday. "In the second half we were tough, we played with collective force, we took care of the ball, we shared it, we made shots and we were tough in the paint," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle told reporters after the loss. "On this trip with these opponents, we just got to put 48 minutes together."
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Dallas), NBCS Bay Area (Golden State)
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (15-15): Rookie small forward Luka Doncic is immune to the team's struggles and scored a season-high 32 points on 10-of-20 shooting with five assists, four rebounds and four steals in Thursday's setback. "We didn't get a win, so for me that doesn't matter," Doncic told reporters. "I just want to win." Doncic is getting some support on the defensive end from center DeAndre Jordan, who grabbed 22 rebounds on Thursday and is averaging 18 boards during the four-game slide.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (21-11): Golden State is searching for consistency and is most concerned about staying healthy through the regular season, but finding the championship form remains a priority. "We're going to continue to get that chemistry, playing Warrior basketball that we know how to play," Curry told reporters. "We've talked about it every year. Every year's different. Every year's going to have different challenges and present a different journey. But at the end of the day, we know what type of team we are. I think we're all bought in to what it's going to take to redefine that dominance." Curry's brand of dominance includes him scoring 30 or more points in five of the last eight contests, including 32 on Wednesday.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Thompson is 5-of-25 from 3-point range over the last four games.
2. Mavericks PG Dennis Smith Jr. (wrist) sat out the last three games and is not expected to play Saturday.
3. Dallas snapped a 10-game losing streak in the series with a 112-109 home win over Golden State on Nov. 17.