Injury-Riddled Mavericks And Warriors Clash In Dallas Showdown

The American Airlines Center in Dallas was buzzing with anticipation on January 22, 2026, as the Dallas Mavericks hosted the Golden State Warriors in a Western Conference showdown that promised intrigue, adversity, and the kind of resilience only NBA hardwood can demand. Both teams entered the contest battered by injuries, but neither seemed willing to let setbacks define their seasons.

The Mavericks, sitting at 18-26 and 12th in the West, were riding high on a three-game win streak—their best stretch since early December. Their latest triumph, a convincing upset over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, had injected much-needed confidence into a squad that’s been ravaged by health woes. The Warriors, meanwhile, boasted a 25-20 record and clung to eighth place in the conference, but the mood was anything but celebratory. Star forward Jimmy Butler had just suffered a season-ending torn ACL on January 19, and Golden State’s first game without him ended in an 18-point home loss to the Toronto Raptors.

It was a tale of two teams, each facing uphill battles. The Warriors’ lineup was depleted, missing both Butler and Seth Curry (out with a sciatic nerve issue), and even Gary Payton II was questionable with a foot injury. The Mavericks’ injury report read like a hospital roll call: Anthony Davis (finger), Dante Exum (knee), Kyrie Irving (knee), Dereck Lively II (foot), and Daniel Gafford (ankle) were all sidelined, while Moussa Cisse was upgraded to probable with an illness. PJ Washington, returning from personal reasons, was finally off the injury list, giving Dallas a bit of hope in the frontcourt.

Despite the absences, the Mavericks had momentum and a home crowd behind them. First overall pick Cooper Flagg, who has been making waves as the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, continued to shoulder a heavy load. Flagg entered the night averaging 18.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, and he was coming off a 27-point performance against these very Warriors on Christmas Day. However, Dallas announced that Flagg would be restricted to just 20-25 minutes, a precautionary measure given the team’s long-term aspirations and his importance to their future.

Max Christie, another rising star for Dallas, had just torched the Knicks from deep, going 8-for-10 from beyond the arc. Naji Marshall and PJ Washington were also expected to play significant roles, especially with so many regulars out. The Mavericks’ recent success was fueled by hot three-point shooting and a relentless defensive effort that forced turnovers—a necessity when facing a team like Golden State, notorious for both their offensive firepower and occasional sloppiness with the ball during the Steph Curry era.

Golden State, on the other hand, found themselves at a crossroads. Without Butler, the team was just 2-5 this season, and the pressure on Stephen Curry had never been greater. Curry, averaging over 27 points and 5.1 assists per game, remained the heartbeat of the Warriors, but even his brilliance couldn’t mask the holes left by injured teammates. The Warriors’ strong defensive identity was being tested, and the supporting cast needed to step up in a big way.

Enter Jonathan Kuminga. After sitting out 16 straight games due to a trade standoff, Kuminga was thrust back into the rotation following Butler’s injury. In his first game back, he delivered an impressive 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, along with five rebounds off the bench. Buddy Hield also shined, going a perfect 6-for-6 from three-point land for 25 points. With the team’s playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the Warriors had little choice but to rely on Kuminga and hope his increased shot volume—especially from deep, where his attempts jumped from 2.7 to 3.3 per game without Butler—would pay dividends.

Draymond Green, a longtime emotional anchor for Golden State, struggled mightily in the first post-Butler contest, posting a -27 plus-minus in just 22 minutes. His recent rebounding numbers have also dipped, falling short of expectations in seven of his last nine outings. The Warriors’ bench, once a strength, suddenly looked thin, and every possession was magnified under the bright lights of Dallas.

Oddsmakers gave the edge to the Warriors, listing them as 5.5-point road favorites with a total points line set at 234.5. Yet, recent betting trends favored Dallas, who had gone 4-1 against the spread in their last five games, exceeding bookmakers’ expectations by nearly 10 points per contest. The Mavericks’ ability to cover, even as underdogs, spoke to their grit and the unpredictability of a team still searching for its full identity.

The game was broadcast nationally on Amazon Prime Video, with additional streaming options on Fubo and NBCS-BA, ensuring fans everywhere could tune in for what promised to be a fast-paced, high-scoring affair. Both teams were among the league’s leaders in three-point attempts, and with so many key defenders unavailable, the stage was set for an offensive showcase.

As tipoff approached, the central questions loomed large: Could Curry will his team to victory on the road, or would the Mavericks’ recent surge and home-court advantage prove too much for the shorthanded Warriors? Would Kuminga and Hield replicate their bench heroics, or would Dallas’ depth and youthful exuberance carry the day?

One thing was certain—this wasn’t just another regular-season game. It was a litmus test for both franchises, a chance to prove that adversity could be met with resolve, and that the NBA season’s grind rewards those who adapt rather than fold. As the action unfolded beneath the bright lights in Dallas, fans were reminded once again why the league’s drama never disappoints.

With both teams’ playoff aspirations on the line and so many stars sidelined, the outcome of this matchup remained far from certain as the opening horn sounded. For now, all eyes were on the American Airlines Center, where the next chapter in this unpredictable NBA season was being written—one possession at a time.