After consecutive wins with Jimmy Butler, the Golden State Warriors will look to keep it going when they visit the fan-ejecting Dallas Mavericks. This will be the third meeting between these teams with the regular-season series tied at 1-1, though, so much has changed since they shared the court.
Will the Warriors intensify the deep sadness Mavs fans are feeling post-trade deadline with a win in Dallas? Or, will the Mavericks stun Golden State?
Catch this game live on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 10:30 AM, Manila time
Away: Golden State Warriors (27-26/12-13 Away)
Projected Starting Five:
- Stephen Curry
- Buddy Hield
- Moses Moody
- Jimmy Butler
- Draymond Green
The Jimmy Butler gamble is paying off so far for the Warriors. Golden State is undefeated in two games with Butler, winning against the Chicago Bulls (132-111) and over the Milwaukee Bucks (125-111) last Sunday and Tuesday, respectively, both on the road. Now comes the last leg of a four-game road trip for the Warriors, who have averaged 128.5 points in their last two games.
Although the Warriors shot just 47.6 percent from the floor in that span, they have averaged that many points in large part because of one of the many qualities that Butler is known for. Butler has already gotten 28 free-throw attempts in two games with Golden State, which has averaged 32.5 tries from the foul line in the same stretch. Note that the Warriors are just 24th in the league overall this season with only 20.8 FT attempts per contest.
The Warriors enter the Dallas game with a 4-2 record against the spread in their last six outings away from San Francisco.
Home: Dallas Mavericks (28-26/15-11 Home)
Projected Starting Five:
- Kyrie Irving
- Klay Thompson
- P.J. Washington (Questionable)
- Kessler Edwards
- Naji Marshall
The Mavs wanted Anthony Davis and Anthony Davis they got – an injury-prone body included. Davis will not be in uniform for the Mavs this Thursday as he’s expected to miss multiple weeks due to a left adductor injury. The Mavericks will also be without another key frontcourt piece against the Warriors, with Daniel Gafford nursing a knee issue. Dallas, which is coming off a 129-128 loss at home to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, will continue to heavily rely on Kyrie Irving for offense.
Irving had 30 points in the Kings game. Spencer Dinwiddie and Max Christie will also have to keep it up after combining for 35 points off the bench against Sacramento. A vintage showing from Klay Thompson can help brighten the mood in Dallas too. The four-time NBA champion has put up 19.0 points on 52.2 percent shooting from the field and 45.0 percent from deep in the last three Mavs games.
The Mavs are 7-3 straight up and 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 home games against the Warriors.
Picks
Spread: Dallas Mavericks (+5.0)
Over/Under: Under (233.0)
