The Golden State Warriors (30-27) cruised past the Dallas Mavericks (31-27) with a commanding 126-102 victory on Friday, February 23, behind a stellar performance from their franchise leader.
Stephen Curry led the way with 30 points, catching fire in the third quarter, where he poured in 16 points to help the Warriors pull away. Jimmy Butler, making his highly anticipated home debut, chipped in 18 points, while rookie Brandin Podziemski recorded 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, showcasing his all-around skill set.
All five of Golden State’s starters finished with 10+ points, with Draymond Green tallying 13, and Moses Moody recording 14.
Warriors rookie forward Quinten Post gave Golden State a spark off the bench, capturing 10 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
For Dallas, Kyrie Irving and P.J. Washington led the team with 17 points apiece, but without Anthony Davis—who missed his fifth straight game due to an adductor strain—the Mavericks struggled to keep pace.
Klay Thompson and Jaden Hardy joined Washington and Irving in double-figure scoring, each notching 11 points.
Since acquiring Butler, the Warriors have won five of their last six games, strengthening their position in the Western Conference playoff race.
They’ll look to keep the momentum going when they visit the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, February 25. Meanwhile, the Mavericks return home to face the Memphis Grizzlies on the same night, hoping to bounce back from their blowout loss.
