DALLAS — The Warriors caught a big break before going for their seventh straight victory.
Luka Doncic, the Mavericks’ all-world guard, was ruled out with right knee soreness. Dallas entered Friday night’s contest 3-6 in games Doncic missed this season.
Doncic is leading the NBA in scoring at 33.8 points per game. He also ranks second in assists (9.8) and 16th in rebounds per game (9.2).
Without Doncic, Dallas’ offensive machine — ranked sixth in offensive rating — is suddenly Kyrie Irving’s to operate.
“You still have plenty to worry about without Luka,” Steve Kerr said pregame. “Obviously Kyrie becomes the focal point, but they have guys that are still very capable. (Tim) Hardaway and (Jaden) Hardy … those guys will be very aggressive.”
The Warriors, who have secured at least a spot in the Play-In Tournament, aren’t at full-strength, either. Andrew Wiggins, who has put together his best stretch of his season recently, is sidelined with ankle soreness. Jonathan Kuminga will also miss his sixth straight game with bilateral knee tendinitis.
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Kuminga warmed up on the American Airlines court, but was shortly thereafter ruled out.
Without Kuminga and Wiggins, the Warriors wouldn’t have much of a shot to match up with Doncic. Luckily for them, they don’t have to.
Quick-hitters
The Warriors had a lot of fun in Houston Thursday night, particularly giving Rockets rookie Tari Eason the business. Eason posted on social media leading up to the game quoting “The Warriors” — Warriors, come out to play and donned a t-shirt with the same phrase during the game. He sat on the sidelines, out with a season-ending injury, as the Warriors dismantled his squad 133-110 and ended their postseason hopes.“That’s pretty lame, especially if you’re not even playing,” Klay Thompson said of Eason’s antics. “It’s one thing if you are out there playing, out there competing and you can back it up. But you’re just going to be trolling from the sideline? What are you doing? The time we talk smack, we’re out there competing. That’s all I have to say about that.”After exchanging words with Draymond Green on the court following the final buzzer, Eason removed his shirt. Consider it a rookie lesson.
The Warriors have kept Steph Curry’s minutes strictly around 32 all year, and that likely won’t change in the last six games of the year. Golden State always looks to steal him extra rest in blowouts and is open to sitting him for a game if the medical staff determines that’s the best course, but until a higher play-in seed is unattainable, that seems unlikely.
Before the Mavericks game, the Warriors owned a 60% chance at staying in their current 10th seed, per Playoff Status. They still have a puncher’s chance at climbing the standings ladder, especially if Sacramento falls; the Kings, down Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter, have remaining games against the Celtics, Thunder, Pelicans and Suns upcoming.
The Western Conference playoff picture, per @PlayoffStatus, with less than two weeks to go.
Top three seeds up for grabs and 6-10 look vulnerable to some tectonic shifting. pic.twitter.com/v2DoV3OeLl
— Danny Emerman (@DannyEmerman) April 5, 2024
