Golden State Warriors hold on against Dallas but may pay the price

The Golden State Warriors may have got a much-needed win against the Dallas Mavericks, but it may come at a price with the franchise sweating on a knee injury to superstar Stephen Curry.

The two-time MVP banged knees on a McKinley Wright IV drive during the third-quarter, hobbling off the floor before heading back to the locker room for the remainder of the game.

The Golden State Warriors held off a fast-finishing Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center on Saturday, but all eyes will be on the outcome of Stephen Curry’s injury.

Leading by 23 late in the third-quarter, Curry’s absence was felt as the Warriors again crumbled offensively in similar fashion to their back-to-back losses against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets.

Playing without their two leading scorers in Luka Doncic and Christian Wood, the Mavericks surged in the fourth to cut the margin to five with 90 seconds to play. While Golden State importantly held on for the win, the game is far from a positive given Curry’s injury and the now commonplace fadeout.

Steve Kerr went back to his traditional starting lineup of having Kevon Looney in place of Jordan Poole, with the move having an immediate dividend as the Warriors jumped out to a double-digit lead. Although the Mavericks cut it to three later in the first period, Golden State closed on a 16-2 run to lead by 17 after 12 minutes.

The teams traded baskets during the second-quarter as the hosts continued to shoot over 60% from the field and 50% from three-point range. They put up 73 first-half points in a balanced offensive display, with eight players contributing at least five points as Kerr went to a ten-man rotation.

The Green’s, Draymond and JaMychal, proved influential on both ends of the floor. It may have been the latter’s best performance in a Warrior uniform, posting 14 points, five rebounds, three assists, a steal and two blocks on 6-for-7 shooting in less than 16 minutes.

The former Defensive Player of the Year was uncharacteristically aggressive offensively, taking 13 shots and making three of his seven attempts from three-point range. Green finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, though medical staff may have to re-evaluate a right leg injury that caused him to miss the Nuggets matchup.

Donte DiVincenzo and Jonathan Kuminga joined JaMychal Green with double-digit scoring off the bench. Yet on the other end of the spectrum, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Poole combined for just 23 shot attempts and 26 total points.

Golden State are back above .500 with a 27-26 record, though it was hardly the confidence-building victory they would have hoped for. They’ll host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday but before that, the result of Curry’s MRI will be top of the agenda.