Warriors defeat Mavs Curry out with leg injury

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) brings the ball up the court against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Jeff Chiu, STF / Associated Press

2023.02.04 – Stephen Curry had 21 points, seven assists and six rebounds before injuring his left leg during a drive late in the third quarter, and still without Curry the Golden State Warriors defeated Dallas Mavericks 119-113 on Saturday night.

Curry went down and the Warriors once again had to fight like crazy to close out a game. The Mavericks team was missing injured star Luka Doncic.

Updated 2023.02.05 – Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who exited last night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks with 2:01 remaining in the third quarter due to a left lower leg injury, underwent a series of examinations. An MRI confirmed that Curry suffered partial tears to his superior tibiofibular ligaments and interosseous membrane as well as a contusion to his lower leg. He will not play in Monday’s game against Oklahoma City and additional clarity on a potential timeline will be established in the coming days.

“Any time a guy’s going to get an MRI there’s a concern level, for sure,” coach Steve Kerr said. “So we’ll just have to wait and see the results.”

Warriors forward Draymond Green added 17 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, while JaMychal Green scored 14 points and Jonathan Kuminga and Donte DiVincenzo each had 13 in another big performance by the bench that helped Golden State build a 40-23 lead after the first.

Then, the Warriors had to hold on at the end again.

“I think when we get down the stretch we stop doing the things that worked,” Draymond Green said. “When you have something that works all game long you don’t go away from it.”

Spencer Dinwiddie scored 25 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. 22 and Dorian Finney-Smith 18 points to lead the Mavs, who had won two straight and three of four. They had won the last three facing the Warriors and 10 of 12 overall in the series.

But Doncic accounts for 33.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game for Dallas. He bruised his right heel in the third quarter of 111-106 home victory against New Orleans on Thursday night. Coach Jason Kidd said Doncic also would miss Monday’s game at Utah then the team would see how he’s progressing.

2023.02.04 – Warriors vs. Mavericks (NBA Video highlights)

Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

2023.02.04 – Warriors vs. Mavericks (NBA Video highlights)

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2023.02.04 – Warriors vs. Mavericks (NBA Video highlights)

The Warriors have struggled closing out games and let the Mavericks get within 116-111 on Hardaway’s 3-pointer with 1:28 left but pulled it off even with No. 30 watching.

“I’m thrilled with the win, but I’m disappointed with the way we closed the game so we’ve got to do better,” Kerr said.

Dinwiddie moved into the starting lineup for Doncic and shot 9 for 17, receiving a technical at the 6:10 mark of the opening quarter after an offensive foul called against him.

Draymond Green and Klay Thompson each started for the defending champions after coming into the game listed as questionable; Green with a right calf tightness and Thompson a non-COVID illness. Thompson scored 14 points.

Dallas began a second five-game road trip in about a month. It marked the Mavs’ first visit to Chase Center since the Warriors advanced to the NBA Finals with a Game 5 win in their Western Conference final match-up.

Golden State made 5 of its first 8 shots to jump ahead 11-2 and force a Mavericks timeout 2:36 into the game.

2023.02.04 – Warriors vs. Mavericks (NBC Sports Post Game)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) congratulates Draymond Green (23) for a 3-point made by Green against the Dallas Mavericks during an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Jeff Chiu, STF / Associated Press

2023.02.04 – Warriors vs. Mavericks (NBC Sports Post Game)

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2023.02.04 – Warriors vs. Mavericks (NBC Sports Post Game)

Dallas won the first meeting this season 116-113 in November.

KUMINGA’S FEAT

Second-year forward Kuminga reached 1,000 points and at 20 years, 121 days became the youngest Warriors player in franchise history to accomplish the milestone.

“He’s a special talent,” Draymond Green said.

TIP-INS

Mavericks: With four steals, Dwight Powell passed Finney-Smith to move into 14th place on the team’s all-time list with 355. … F Davis Bertans, who exited Thursday with a strained left calf, is expected to be out until after the All-Star break. … F Christian Wood (fractured left thumb) scrimmaged and did fine and will continue to progress in the on-court work. … F/C Maxi Kleber (torn right hamstring) is improving and went through a good rehab session Friday, Kidd said.

2023.02.04 – Warriors vs. Mavericks (Kruger Show Post Game)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) brings the ball for a lay-up against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Jeff Chiu, STF / Associated Press

2023.02.04 – Warriors vs. Mavericks (Kruger Show Post Game)

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2023.02.04 – Warriors vs. Mavericks (Kruger Show Post Game)

Warriors: Andrew Wiggins continues to progress after a tough stretch in which he missed 15 games and then another three with both a strained thigh muscle and non-COVID illness. He returned for the three games of the recent road trip and Kerr noted: “I think in all three games on the trip he looked much more like himself physically and aggression-wise. I fully expect him to keep that going, and as that happens the shots will start to go in.” Wiggins had nine points on 4-for-6 shooting. … Golden State got 16 first-quarter bench points and led 40-23, with 12 assists on 17 field goals. The Warriors wound up with 33 assists.