DALLAS— In the American Airlines Center, the Warriors couldn’t keep up with the Mavs despite Luka Doncic’s cooldown and a terrible Mavericks 3-point shooting night.

In March, Doncic averaged 35.8 points, 11.2 assists, and 11.0 rebounds. He scored 21 points and nine rebounds. Dallas scored 68 points in the paint despite shooting 6-for-27 (22.2%) from 3.

 

Draymond Green was a late scratch with low back soreness, and Steph Curry was out with an ankle sprain. In their absences, Jonathan Kuminga scored 27 points and Dallas took advantage of the lack of physicality on both ends. Seven of Dallas’ 13 blocks came from center Daniel Gafford, a constant rim deterrent.

Warriors (34-31), who trail Dallas in the Western Conference play-in, lost 109-99, a double whammy. The two teams have two more games this season that could determine seeding.

The Warriors surprised Dallas by drawing the first quarter. Golden State was a heavy underdog without Curry and Green. However, Kuminga consistently attacked and dropped 10 in the first frame. The wing scored in double figures for the 43rd time in 45 games in nine minutes.

 

The first half saw Kuminga go 6-for-10. Teammates shot 10-for-33.

Dallas’ shooting woes were the main reason Golden State survived the low-scoring game. Mavericks hit only one of their first 17 3-pointers.

The Mavericks and Warriors traded 13-2 runs in the second quarter as the Mavericks struggled outside. Dallas threatened to steal it, but Kuminga and Jackson-Davis made crucial plays.

Dallas’ size at every position plagued Golden State all night. Mavericks scored 40 of their first 54 points in the paint. Several rim shots by Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively went into the stands.

Golden State’s first-half defense of Luka Doncic was nearly impossible. The Warriors forced Doncic to start 5-for-15 by throwing multiple on-ball defenders at him, staying disciplined on his pump fakes, and loading up on the weak side for lane help.

The Warriors snapped Doncic’s streak of seven triple-doubles, six of which he scored at least 30 points.

Doncic began understanding the Warriors in the third. He drilled a step-back 3 after Brandin Podziemski scored a and-1 in the post. Despite a six-point deficit in the fourth, Golden State survived.

Doncic began the fourth quarter on the bench, allowing the Warriors to rally. Dallas shut down Golden State for a 16-4 thrashing. Everything came inside from their bigs and a slashing Kyrie Irving (23 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds) all game.

Doncic wasn’t needed in the fourth quarter because the Mavericks had a comfortable lead. He went to the scorer’s table to check in, but the team later said he had hamstring pain.

They got 29 minutes from their superstar, while Golden State got none.