Dallas Mavs Seek to Exploit 'Bizarre' Golden State Warriors Home Struggles in Matchup

The Mavs will end a five-game road trip with a matchup against the Warriors at Chase Center, with the chance to extend their winning streak to eight in a row.

Mar 13, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) drives to the basket past / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

SAN FRANCISCO — After a blowout victory over the Houston Rockets, the Dallas Mavericks will face the Golden State Warriors at 9:00 p.m. (CST) in a nationally televised matchup (TNT) on Tuesday, ending a five-game road trip. The Mavs seek to extend their seven-game winning streak with the possibility of winning the most games in a row since 2011.

“I think our defense and our energy, they’ve been at a high level for most of these games,” Mavs superstar Luka Doncic said. “We stay together all the time, so even when teams make a run we stay together. That’s the most important thing.”

Mar 13, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) drives to the basket past / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Doncic is coming off a performance featuring 47 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists agains the Rockets, solidifying his candidacy for Western Conference Player of the Week. He's averaged 30.0 points, 9.5 assists, and 5.5 rebounds in two games against the Warriors this season.

“I’ve been in this league for five years now, so I’m just understanding the game and learning the game and just maturing,” Doncic said. “I’m better this season, so I’ve just got to keep going like that.”

The most recent head-to-head involving the Mavs and Warriors was on March 13, with Golden State playing without Stephen Curry. The Mavs were led by 23 points from Kyrie Irving and 21 from Doncic, who did not finish the game after going to the locker room in the fourth quarter while the team already solidified a victory.

"They've won championships. They got Steph and you can never count them out," Doncic said. "I think they're fighting for the play-in, if I'm not wrong. You can never count out the Warriors, man."

Both teams may have to adjust to not having key players available to play. The Mavs have Dereck Lively II (right knee soreness) listed as questionable and Josh Green (right ankle sprain) remaining out. Jonathan Kuminga is questionable for the Warriors as he deals with knee tendinitis. Klay Thompson is probable to play with right knee tendonitis.

With Irving being sidelined for the first meeting involving these two teams this season and Stephen Curry being out for the other matchup, the two superstar guards will face off for the first time since Irving was traded to the Mavs. Irving led the Brooklyn Nets to a 120-116 victory using 38 points and nine assists on January 22, 2023. Meanwhile, Curry had 26 points and seven assists on the night. Both superstars have engaged in some fascinating duels over their 30 total games played against each other, including 13 games played in the NBA Finals.

Golden State completed a 4-1 road trip with a 117-113 win at San Antonio on Sunday, which featured a significant performance by Draymond Green. In a matchup with the league’s top shot-blocker, Victor Wembanyama, Green made 8 of 9 shots from the floor en route to 21 points, which he complemented with 11 assists, six rebounds, six steals, and a block. Green did not play in the two previous meetings against the Mavs.

The Warriors' recent victories on the road have provided a glimmer of hope, starkly contrasting their struggles at home. Despite a commendable 22-15 away record, Golden State's performance in San Francisco has been less than stellar, posing a challenge as they face off against the Mavs. The Warriors have lost five of their last seven games with an 18-19 home record. They will be motivated to protect home court with just a two-game lead over the Rockets for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference.

“It’s bizarre,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “A year ago, it was the complete opposite. We were 33-8 at home and 0-41 on the road or so. So, who knows? It’s hard to explain these things. The main thing is we’re playing well right now. We’re in a pretty good groove. We’re coming along well.”

The Mavs arrive in San Francisco riding the momentum of a winning streak, albeit with a hectic travel schedule that has taken them across the country numerous times. Their performance on the road has been noteworthy, tied for fifth in winning percentage (.622). The team has switched cities for games in 10 of their last 11 games, with the only single location being the two-game mini-series in Sacramento. This trend will continue with the next two games being played first in San Francisco and then in Dallas.

"I miss home now,” Doncic said after defeating the Rockets. “It has been the longest road trip ever.”