NBA: P.J. Washington’s layup lifts Mavs past Warriors

P.J. Washington made a tiebreaking layup with 4.5 seconds remaining as the Dallas Mavericks overcame the absence of Luka Doncic to hold off the visiting Golden State Warriors 108-106 on Friday night.

The Mavericks (47-30) took a 105-99 lead on Kyrie Irving’s jumper with 1:43 to go. The Warriors (42-35) rallied to tie the score at 106 on Stephen Curry’s 17-foot step-back jumper with 13 seconds to go.

With Doncic resting on the second night of a back-to-back set and Kyrie Irving double-teamed, the Mavericks turned to Tim Hardaway Jr., who drove into the lane and fed Washington for the winning points.

Seeking a seventh straight win, the Warriors gave the ball to Curry on their final possession. But he was defended tightly and passed to Chris Paul, who found Klay Thompson for a good look at a 3-pointer but it was off the mark.

Washington, who went 5-for-8 from beyond the arc, finished with a game-high 32 points and Irving had 26 for the Mavericks, who avenged a 104-100 loss at Golden State on Tuesday, the only loss in their past 10 games.

Daniel Gafford finished with 10 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks for the Mavericks. Hardaway scored 13 points and Dante Exum added 11 in the win.

Curry scored a team-high 28 points, including five 3-pointers for the Warriors, who gave Andrew Wiggins a night off on the second game of a back-to-back set to rest a sore ankle.

Thompson scored 16 points but was just 2-for-8 on 3-pointers. Gary Payton II and Brandin Podziemski added 14 points apiece for Golden State, which lost the season series 3-1 to the Mavericks.

Paul chipped in with nine points, eight assists, five rebounds and four steals for the Warriors. Trayce Jackson-Davis pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.

—Field Level Media/Reuters