After taking full advantage of inferior opponents in their last two games, the Warriors hope to do the same Sunday when they face the Mavericks at American Airlines Arena in Dallas.
Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 3 p.m. with Warriors Pregame Live, with tipoff scheduled for 4:10. All coverage can be seen on the MyTeams App.
The Warriors (28-14) have won three in a row, with the last two being decisive wins over the Chicago Bulls (146-109) and the New York Knicks (122-95). Those games mark the only time this season that the Warriors have won back-to-back contests by at least 25 points.
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Consistency, however, has been elusive for the defending NBA champs, who have just two win streaks of at least four games.
Routing Dallas will not be easy. Though the Mavs (20-22) have been no better than mediocre this season, they have proven they can compete with the Warriors. The teams split the first two meetings, with the Mavs posting a 112-109 win Nov. 17 in Dallas and the Warriors taking a 120-116 victory Dec. 22 in Oakland.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Warriors
Golden State Warriors
F Kevin Durant
F Draymond Green
C Kevon Looney
G Klay Thompson
G Stephen Curry
Mavericks
F Harrison Barnes
F Maxi Kleber
C DeAndre Jordan
G Wesley Matthews
G Luka Doncic
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: C DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles tendon rehab) and C Damian Jones (pectoral muscle surgery) are listed as out.
Mavericks: G Dennis Smith Jr. (mid-back tightness) is listed as questionable. G Jose Juan Barea (R Achilles’ tendon rupture) is listed as out.
ROTATION OUTLOOK
Warriors: With blowouts in their last two games, the Warriors have expanded their rotations. Every healthy member of the team has gotten minutes. They have been able to empty the bench in the fourth quarters, so the starters should be plenty fresh if needed down the stretch.
Sizzling: Thompson is averaging 27.2 ppg, on 54 percent shooting over last six games. It is by far his best stretch of the season.
Also sizzling: Reserve PG Quinn Cook has shot at least 50 percent from the field in his last six games, 53.8 percent overall. Durant has scored at least 20 points in 29 of his last 30 games, including the last 15.
Mavericks: Though Smith is listed as questionable, he didn’t fly with the team to Minnesota on Thursday. With him also being the subject of trade rumors, the Mavericks likely will play it safe.
Doncic averaged 21.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the first two meetings. He was clutch in a win Friday at Minnesota, with three go-ahead buckets in the final two minutes, the first rookie to accomplish that feat since Vince Carter in 1999.
Dirk Nowitzki, 40, missed the first two months of his final season while recovering from ankle surgery. He has played in 12 games, not once exceeding 16 minutes. Doncic is the team’s scoring leader, at 20.0 ppg, with ex-Warrior Barnes at 18.1 ppg.
Dwight Powell, a Stanford product, has been the key big man off the bench.
Officials: Ed Malloy (chief), Ron Garretson, Jacyn Goble.