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Warriors Defeat Mavs, Improve to 62-6 Behind Curry’s 31

By William Gomez
Published on: 18:13 PST, Mar 18, 2016

SPLASH! Stephen Curry and his fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson combined for 70 points Friday night to lead the league leading Golden State Warriors over the Dallas Mavericks 130-112.

The win isn’t only redemption for Golden State who lost to the Mavs earlier this season, but it also pushes the Warriors to 62-6 with 14 games left in the regular season for them to try and secure the best regular season record in NBA history–currently held by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls (72-10).

“A lot of talk about this record,” Curry said. “It’s there, and we want to get there and do it the right way, but our mission from New Year’s and even after the All-Star break was to continue to get better and reach our stride as we move toward the playoffs. I believe we’re on that trend.”

The record is just one of many unprecedented records the Warriors have been breaking in their historic season.

Curry continued his majestic 3-point show in Dallas on Friday night, making a couple extraordinary long balls over Dirk Nowitzki, one that was near mid-court to beat the first-quarter buzzer, that drew a huge reaction from the crowd in a game that saw the reigning MVP go for 31.

The Warriors started the game going 14 for 17 from downtown, and finished the game 22-of-38 in route to their seventh straight victory.

Klay Thompson hit 10 of 15 threes and led the way for the Warriors with 39 points, and in doing so, became the second fastest player to reach 1,000 career three pointers, the first being none other than his Splash brother, Stephen Curry.

Despite their flashy shooting, the Warriors lacked a defensive presence, allowing the Mavs to hang around all the way until the final period. Dallas was able to climb back and get within five points with 3 minutes left in the game, but a 3 by Thompson started a run that would ultimately put the game out of reach for good from a Mavs team that is fighting to stay alive in the Western Conference playoff race.

Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavs with 24 points on 9-16 shooting as they dropped below.500 (34-35) for the first time since Nov. 11 and have now lost seven of their last eight games.

Former Warrior David Lee–who was a part of the Warriors championship team last season– had a solid game facing his former team, contributing a double-double with 16 points and 16 boards.

With this loss, the Mavs fall out of a seventh-place tie with the Houston Rockets and sit just a half-game ahead of the Utah Jazz (33-35) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. They go on to face Portland on Sunday.

Curry finished the game one assist shy of a triple double, going for 31 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists.

The Warriors now go on to face a team that many believe can dethrone them in a seven game series tomorrow night. The San Antonio Spurs host Golden State in a prime time matchup that will be broadcasted on ABC and feature what many consider are the best two teams in the NBA.

While the Warriors are easily the best offensive team in the NBA, the Spurs hold the leagues best defensive mark. What adds to the value of tomorrow’s match up is the fact that Golden State holds a 32-game losing streak in San Antonio that goes back to Feb. 14, 1997, and is currently the NBA’s longest drought on another team’s court.

The 58-10 Spurs will also be attempting to protect their undefeated home record of 43-0 against the NBA’s hottest team.

However, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Spurs head coach Greg Popavich pulls one of his trademark mind-game moves and sits some of his key players at the last minute. In the Warriors first game against the Spurs earlier this season, Pop sat an aching Tim Duncan and the Spurs were routed by the Warriors in Oakland.

(AP Photo/Brandon Wade)

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