Warriors Look to Continue Hot Streak Against Tired Mavericks

When the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks faced off about a month ago at Oracle Arena, Stephen Curry exploded for 51 points and led the Warriors back from a 22-point first quarter deficit to win by 14.

In a re-match on Friday night, they hope to not fall behind early and have to depend on an extraordinary performance from their star again.

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This could very well be a first round playoff preview, with the Mavericks sitting in sixth and struggling, losing three of their last four games with the Spurs and Thunder behind them in the West.

They feature a loaded lineup, with the acquisitions of Rajon Rondo and Amar’e Stoudemire adding to core of Dirk Nowitzki, Monta Ellis, Tyson Chandler, and Chandler Parsons. Parsons, who has an ankle injury, will not play on Friday.

The Warriors have won five straight over the Mavericks, and will look to continue the trend on Friday;

Key Matchups

Stephen Curry vs. Rajon Rondo: A match-up of two small, yet electric point guards, this should be fun to watch. Rondo, however, has gotten off to a rocky start since being traded to the Mavericks, with concerns about sharing a backcourt with another ball-demanding guard in Monta Ellis. Nevertheless, he and Curry are two of the best in the league when it comes to running the show on offense.

Klay Thompson vs. Monta Ellis: Always an intriguing comparison, because Ellis being traded allowed Thompson to flourish in Golden State. Ellis leads the Mavericks in scoring at 19.2 points per game, fitting in well in Dallas’ system. The defensive side of the ball will be key here, as Ellis is much smaller than Thompson, and Thompson is capable of locking down the ex-Warrior whenever Ellis has the ball.

Draymond Green vs. Dirk Nowitzki: Two agile power forwards who can extend their range. Obviously Green will have his hands full with Nowitzki, who has the size advantage and can simply shoot over Green. But as we’ve seen, Green is tough and can be more physical than Nowitzki, while stepping out and hitting the occasional three may tire the Mavs’ old horse on defense.

Andrew Bogut vs. Tyson Chandler: This is game full of power matchups, and the centers round out the list. Two of the best centers in the league, Bogut and Chandler play a pivotal role on defense for their respective squads, their length altering shots and challenging whoever dares to come into the lane. They are important on offense as well; Chandler averages double-digits, while Bogut is instrumental in the Warriors’ quick ball-movement scheme.

Keys to the Game

1. Take advantage of tired Mavs

It is the second game of a back-to-back for the Mavericks, who lost 94-75 to the Trail Blazers in Portland on Thursday. The Warriors, meanwhile, are in a stretch of 10 in 12 games at home. As the fresher team with the best home record in the league, they must take advantage of playing a tired playoff contender at home.

2. Consistency

While the Warriors wound up winning comfortably against the Bucks at home on Wednesday, it looked rocky in the first three quarters. At times, they were out-hustled and out-played by the Bucks, settling for poor shots in the half-court. It’s easier said than done in a grueling 82-game schedule, but it would be nice for the Warriors to get back to their style of play for a full 48 minutes.

Next: Crunching the Numbers: Warriors Aim for Home Dominance Against Mavericks