The Warriors (29-8) are feeling good about themselves after their win on Saturday when star Stephen Curry scored a whopping 38 points on an NBA season-high 10 3-pointers to help beat Memphis 141-128. The Warriors had gone 9-2 during Curry’s 11-game absence due to a sprained right ankle.
Golden State found out Wednesday it will have the services of Draymond Green, who tweaked his ankle Tuesday during a scrimmage. Andre Iguodala and Omri Casspi, however, will sit out with ailments.
Dallas currently owns the NBA’s longest win streak at 4 games, thanks to some superlative play from rookie point guard Dennis Smith Jr. The Mavs’ guard, taken No. 9 overall,, has flourished in the fourth quarter lately. He scored Dallas’ last 11 points in Sunday’s 116-113 win over Oklahoma City.
The Mavericks have lost twice to the Warriors already, including a 112-97 loss at Oracle on Dec. 14.
The Warriors have a showdown on Thursday with the Houston Rockets, who unfortunately will be without star James Harden, who injured his hamstring in an overtime win over the Lakers Sunday night. Harden will miss at least the next two weeks.
Here are the projected starting lineups:
Warriors
C Zaza Pachulia
PF Draymond Green
SF Kevin Durant
SG Klay Thompson
PG Stephen Curry
Mavericks
C Max Kleber
PF Dirk Nowitzki
SF Harrison Barnes
SG Wesley Matthews
PG Dennis Smith Jr.
