Superstars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving gave the Mavs a late lead that they used to upset the undermanned Warriors.

The Dallas Mavericks, sans Draymond Green and Stephen Curry in the starting lineup, took on the Golden State Warriors looking to extend their winning run to three games. In the fourth quarter, Luka Doncic did not play, but the Mavs still won 109-99.

Both teams had a lot of runs in the first quarter, with the Mavs leading 7-1 at the beginning and the Warriors tying the score several times after rallies. Golden State tied the game at 9 with an 8-2 surge in the first half. Following a 7-0 run by Dallas to take a 16-9 lead, they outscored 9-2 to force an 18-18 draw. Every time momentum favored one side, the other narrowed the difference.

Even after the Warriors took a 27-23 lead in the non-Luka minutes of the first quarter, the game was still fiercely contested. During this portion of the game, Golden State frequently blitzed or sent a late double to get the ball out of Irving’s hands, which interfered with the Mavs’ σffensive flow. Dallas was tied 27–27 at the end of the quarter.

After a transition dunk, the Mavs went on a 13-2 run to start the second quarter and increased their lead to 40-29 with 6:35 left before halftime. They then called a timeout. Dallas used Doncic, Exum, Jones, Washington, and Gafford in a lineup that maximized perimeter strength, defensive adaptability, and the ability to att𝔞ck in the half-court off the dribble.

Golden State frequently switches up its defensive coverage when facing Doncic. After Dallas had succeeded in attacking downhill early in the game, the Warriors used more early low-man rotations to have assistance deep in the paint in the second quarter. Sending late doubles or blitzes was the main emphasis earlier.

With just three minutes remaining in the game before halftime, the Mavs were leading 42–40. However, the Warriors turned the tables once more, responding with an 11-2 run to take the lead. Dallas increased their lead to 48-42 at the half after finishing the quarter on a 6-2 run.

Dallas didn’t score on its second made 3-point attempt until 6:32 into the third quarter, when Exum made a jumper from the corner during a transition after Doncic completed a spray-out pass. Dallas led 76–70 at the end of the third quarter.

The Mavs restored a double-figure lead in the second half, increasing it to 82-72 with 10:06 remaining in regulation after opening the fourth quarter with a 6-2 run. Taking advantage of the mismatch and receiving a semi-transition post-up against Paul, the Warriors requested a timeout for Washington.

Dallas led by as many as 18 points in the fourth quarter and won handily. Irving led the bench unit at this time. Doncic left the game midway through the fourth quarter to visit the locker room. He did not return. Later on, a strained left hamstring forced him to withdr𝔞w, ending his incredible triple-double run.

In order to finish a back-to-back, the Mavericks will play the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on Thursday night.