NBA: Mavericks top Warriors for second time this season
Published March 14, 2024 1:34pm Luka Doncic’s run of triple-doubles ended, but the host Dallas Mavericks turned to the shot-blocking of big men Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II to outlast the short-handed Golden State Warriors 109-99 on Wednesday night. Gafford and Lively combined for 22 points, 14 rebounds and nine blocks, allowing the Mavericks […]
Tomas Kauer - News Moderator 
Luka Doncic’s run of triple-doubles ended, but the host Dallas Mavericks turned to the shot-blocking of big men Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II to outlast the short-handed Golden State Warriors 109-99 on Wednesday night.
Gafford and Lively combined for 22 points, 14 rebounds and nine blocks, allowing the Mavericks to win for just the second time all season when scoring fewer than 112 points. They also won their fourth straight overall.
Gafford had seven of Dallas’ 13 blocks, missing his career-high by one.
Jonathan Kuminga went for a game-high 27 points for the Warriors, who were missing Stephen Curry for their third straight game because of a sprained right ankle. Golden State was also without Draymond Green, who was a late scratch with a sore lower back.
Doncic, whose seven straight triple-doubles included six straight with at least 35 points scored, finished with 21 points, nine assists and three rebounds on Wednesday.
Despite shooting just 40.2 percent overall, the Warriors stayed in the game for three quarters. But already up six, the Mavericks held Golden State to just one field goal over the first 3:56 of the final period, building an 87-72 lead in the meantime.
Kyrie Irving contributed five of his team-high 23 points to the 11-2 burst.
The Warriors, who had won nine of their last 10 road games, got no closer than 11 until a bucket in the closing seconds.
Irving also contributed 10 assists while matching Lively’s eight rebounds.
Lively, who had two blocks, hit six of his eight shots en route to 12 points, while Gafford shot 5-for-5 for his 10 points. He also had six rebounds and two steals.
Josh Green and P.J. Washington added 11 points apiece for Dallas, which won its second straight over Golden State this season.
Andrew Wiggins had 17 points for the Warriors, while Trayce Jackson-Davis chipped in with 10 points to complement nine rebounds.
Brandin Podziemski finished with 11 points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals.
–Field Level Media/Reuters
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