Warriors Heat Up in Second Half to Surge past the Mavericks

After an exciting day full of trades throughout the league before the deadline, the Mavericks set their sights on the defending champs in Oakland. 

On the trade front, the Mavs acquired Doug McDermott from the New York Knicks in a three-team deal involving the Nuggets. In return, the Nuggets acquired Devin Harris from the Mavericks. For the Warriors, no deals were made. 

To start the game, just like the last meeting between the two teams in January, the Mavericks came out to a hot start. Dennis Smith Jr. was super aggressive in the first half, scoring 15 points and 10 in the first quarter alone. After a 10-point deficit at the end of the first, the Warriors shot their way back into it, tying it up at the half 60 all. 

In the absence of Harrison Barnes against his former team, Dwight Powell was playing like a mad man, scoring 13 points and five rebounds at the half. Steph Curry led the way for the champs with 12 points. 

The second half turned out to be what we all expected. The Warriors finally put their foot on the gas and began to run away with the game. GS outscored the Mavs by nine in the third to take a 93-84 lead into the fourth. In the final frame, the scoring just continued for the Warriors, bringing the Mavs back to earth in a 121-102 loss to the champs. 

Dennis Smith Jr. put up 22 points on 8/18 shooting and 4/9 from three. Dwight Powell played well in the starting lineup with 18 points and six rebounds. That Dude notched a double-double with 16 points and 11 boards. 

For the Warriors, Steph Curry scored 20 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists along with 24 points and nine rebounds from Kevin Durant. The Warriors shot an impressive 48% from three on 14/29 shooting. 

Dennis continued to show how fearless he is on the court especially when the stakes are high with a prominent opponent standing across from him. 

The Mavericks will head home in preparation for the new look Lakers on Saturday as we hope to see Dougie McBuckets in a Mavs uniform for the first time.