The Golden State Warriors fizzled without red hot Stephen Curry on
Wednesday, falling 114-91 to the Mavericks in Dallas in just their
second defeat of the NBA season.
The Mavericks made the most of Curry's absence with a lower left leg
injury, racing to an early 17-point lead that they stretched to as many
as 30 in the third quarter.
"Our guys did a very good job of staying very focused even though Curry
didn't play," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "We knew there was a
chance he wouldn't and if he didn't we didn't want to have any kind of
emotional letdown. The rest of their team is a great team."
The Mavericks led 60-42 at halftime and with forward Harrison Barnes,
backup guard Leandro Barbosa and reserve centre Festus Ezeli also all
sidelined by injury, Warriors interim coach Luke Walton had few options.
Golden State guard Klay Thompson had one of his worst nights of the
season, connecting on just four of 15 shots from the floor and one of
two from the free throw line for 10 points, his lowest contribution
since November 11.
Thirty-two of the Mavericks' 60 first-half points came in the paint, where they held a 22-point advantage at the interval.
Dallas built the lead to 83-53 with 5:05 left in the third as they
thwarted a Warriors team that have averaged 114 points per game.
Dallas guard J.J. Barea, making his fourth straight start in place of
injured Deron Williams, scored a game-high 23 points including five of
seven from three-point range.
Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki had 18 points and eight rebounds and
centre ZaZa Pachulia posted his 17th double-double of the season with 14
points and 15 rebounds.
The Warriors, who will try to bounce back against the Rockets in Houston
on Thursday, fell to 29-2 – still a record-setting season start that
Carlisle called "completely remarkable".
BOSTON SAYS BYE TO BRYANT
In another signficant stop on the Kobe Bryant farewell tour, the Los
Angeles Lakers superstar produced a double-double of 15 points and 11
rebounds to help the Lakers to a 112-104 victory over the Celtics in
Boston.
Cheered in pre-game introductions – then booed when he touched the ball –
the 37-year-old veteran came away with more emotional memories from his
last appearance at the Celtics' TD Garden before he retires at the end
of the season.
"Being able to say thanks to the fans was a beautiful moment," said
Bryant, who patted his chest in recognition of the pre-game ovation.
He was even more touched, however, by the jeers that recognised the long
Celtics-Lakers enmity, a rivalry that he said had shaped his career.
"As soon as I touched the ball and they booed, I'm like, 'Oh, I'm
home,'" said Bryant, who didn't score until his ninth shot but made a
key contribution to a 21-5 third-quarter scoring run.
Bryant was treated to another ovation as the game ended, chants of
"Ko-be! echoing around the arena before he exchanged embraces with
several Celtics players.
Bryant said the Celtics played a pivotal role in his NBA career. After
the Lakers' 2008 NBA title bid ended in a blowout loss to the Celtics in
Boston, he and the Lakers turned the tables with a seven-game Finals
triumph over the Celtics in 2010.
"When we lost (to the Celtics) in 2008, that was the turn for me,"
Bryant said. "That was when it was like, 'Listen, I have to figure this
leadership thing out by any means necessary.'"
BUTLER DOES IT
In Chicago, Bulls guard Jimmy Butler tipped in an alley-oop pass with
1.2 seconds left in overtime to lift the hosts to a 102-100 victory over
the Indiana Pacers.
Butler scored 23 of his 28 points in the second half and overtime and
guard Aaron Brooks came off the bench to score a season-high 29 points
for Chicago, who pulled off the victory despite the absence of star
guard Derrick Rose because of right hamstring tendinitis.
In San Antonio, the Spurs routed the Phoenix Suns 112-79 to remain
unbeaten at home, improving to 19-0 on their own court this season.
The lowly Philadelphia 76ers nabbed their third win of the season, never
trailing in the second half en route to a 110-105 victory over the
Kings in Sacramento.
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