The Dallas Mavericks are back in the Bay Area sooner than originally scheduled.
The Mavericks will face the Golden State Warriors for the second time this season as a result of both teams losing in the quarterfinal round of the NBA Cup.
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Round one ended in dramatic fashion as Stephen Curry drilled the dagger 3-pointer to put the Mavericks to bed in early November. That game was the NBA Cup opener for both teams, but it also marked an emotional return for Klay Thompson in his first contest against his former team.
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Offensive rebounding was a challenge for the Mavericks in their last loss to the Warriors. They were overwhelmed on the glass 50-40, but allowed Golden State to secure 18 offensive rebounds. That game was played without P.J. Washington, who will return after a one-game absence due to illness.
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Washington is the Mavericks' second-best rebounder after Luka Doncic and he's looking forward to the challenge of reversing the outcome this time around.
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"They're a really good team. They play hard," Washington said after Saturday's practice. "I think the last time we played them, they had a lot of offensive rebounds, made us turn the ball over a couple of times. ... Going into this game, just trying to take all of those little things and just be better on them."
Washington's absence is significant because the Mavericks are 1-5 without him in the lineup. After being called the "backbone" of the team by Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Washington reflected on his two-way role.
"When I am on the floor, I just try and be a presence vocally," Washington said. "Just trying to help everybody be in the right spots and then just trying to control the glass. Just try to do all the little things that our teams needs to do to win. That's my main focus every night."
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The Mavericks will be shorthanded once again without Naji Marshall, who's still fighting through illness, along with Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain), Maxi Kleber and Brandon Williams (right thumb sprain). Kleber has missed the last two games with illness, but the injury report also revealed that the Mavericks forward has a rib fracture.
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Curry, who finished with 37 points, six rebounds and nine assists on Nov. 12, is questionable for Sunday's game against the Mavericks because of right cervical facet inflammation. Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins is also listed as questionable with right adductor tightness.
Thompson finished with 22 points and six 3-pointers in his return to the Bay Area. He's averaging 19.5 points and 4.5 rebounds on 50% shooting and 42% from beyond the arc over the last two games.
"It's been great. Klay's a true pro," Kidd said. "He comes to work ready to play. We've been lucky to have him. His fit is perfect for what we need."
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Sunday also marks the first day players who were signed in the offseason are eligible to be traded. The Warriors are finalizing a trade to acquire Dennis Schroder and one second-round pick from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for De'Anthony Melton and three second-round picks, according to several reports.
That pending trade won't affect Sunday's game, but the Warriors could look vastly different when they visit the Mavericks on Feb. 12 -- a week after the NBA trade deadline.
Sunday's contest against the Warriors will mark the Mavericks' 13th road game in the last 17 games. It's a stretch in which the Mavericks haven't played consecutive home games since Nov. 6 and Nov. 8. A scheduling quirk because of the NBA Cup will have the Mavericks play 40 games at home and 42 games on the road.
"It's just part of the business," Kidd said. "That's what it is. No one's gonna complain about it. We made it through that road trip pretty well. That just shows the character of the guys with the ailments and the injuries. Now we have an opportunity to be home for a little bit after tomorrow's game and then we go back on the road."
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