Warriors Crush Mavericks as Jimmy Butler Shines in Home Debut
The Golden State Warriors delivered a commanding performance on Sunday, dismantling the Dallas Mavericks 126-102 at the Chase Center. The night was headlined by Stephen Curry’s explosive 30-point outing, a memorable home debut for Jimmy Butler, and the retirement of Andre Iguodala’s No. 9 jersey in a special postgame ceremony.
Curry Catches Fire in the Third
After a slow start that saw Dallas take an early 9-4 lead, the Warriors flipped the switch and dominated the rest of the way. By the end of the first quarter, Golden State had built a 33-18 advantage, setting the tone for the afternoon.
Curry was at his dazzling best, erupting for 16 of his game-high 30 points in the third quarter, pushing the Warriors further out of reach. He didn’t even need to play in the fourth, finishing with an efficient 12-of-20 shooting, including three three-pointers, while also dishing out a game-high seven assists. This marked the 13th time this season Curry has reached the 30-point mark.
Jimmy Butler Makes a Statement in San Francisco Debut
After playing his first five games with Golden State on the road, Jimmy Butler finally made his highly anticipated home debut—and he did not disappoint. Butler scored 18 points, making all eight of his free throws, while adding five assists, three rebounds, and a steal.
Since Butler’s arrival, the Warriors have gone 5-1, signaling a potential late-season surge for a team looking to climb the Western Conference standings.
Balanced Contributions Fuel Golden State
The Warriors enjoyed strong performances across the board:
- Brandin Podziemski recorded 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds
- Moses Moody added 14 points
- Draymond Green put up 13 points, six assists, four rebounds, and two steals
- Quinten Post chipped in 10 points off the bench
Golden State shot 48.0% from the field and dominated the glass, outrebounding the Mavericks 54-41.
Mavericks Stumble Without Anthony Davis
For Dallas, Kyrie Irving and P.J. Washington each scored 17 points, but the absence of star forward Anthony Davis (adductor strain) proved costly. The Mavericks struggled to keep up, seeing their three-game winning streak snapped as they fell to a 2-2 season-series split with the Warriors.
Klay Thompson, in his third game back in San Francisco since his offseason sign-and-trade departure, was held scoreless in the first half but came alive in the second, hitting three trademark three-pointers to finish with 11 points.
A Night to Remember: Iguodala’s Jersey Retirement
The game was capped off with a special moment in Warriors history—the retirement of Andre Iguodala’s No. 9 jersey. The four-time NBA champion and 2015 NBA Finals MVP received a heartfelt tribute, cementing his legacy as a Warriors icon.
What’s Next?
With momentum building, the Warriors will look to keep rolling as they gear up for their next challenge. Meanwhile, the Mavericks will aim to bounce back, especially as they await the return of Anthony Davis to full strength.
