|
 When instead it was former All-NBA defender Shawn Marion who took
the challenge, Curry didn't flinch. Fortunately for the Warriors,
Marion did.
Curry got Marion to go for a pump-fake, then rose over the taller
defender for a tiebreaking 17-footer with 1.5 seconds to play,
capping a comeback that gave the Warriors a 95-93 victory over the
Mavericks.
"He's an all-time great shooter," Warriors coach Mark Jackson said
of Curry, the NBA leader in fourth-quarter scoring average this
season. "I've seen Stephen Curry hit that shot (at practice)
hundreds of times, thousands of times. So when the curtain goes up,
you expect it to go in."
In winning for the seventh time in nine home games this season, the
Warriors set a high pick for Curry on their final possession after
each team missed opportunities in the final minute to break a 93-93
tie. The point guard veered right to open space, creating the
one-on-one duel with Marion that ended in Golden State's favor.
"It's just about getting a good look," the 6-foot-3 Curry said of
his fake on Marion, who stands 6-7. "I was kind of able to lull him
to sleep with the pump-fake and get a good look at it, and
thankfully it went in."
The win allowed the Warriors (13-10) to move into a tie with the
Mavericks (13-10) in the Western Conference standings. Dallas began
the night in the No. 7 playoff position in the West, while Golden
State, which lost seven of its previous 11 games, was on the outside
looking in, sitting in the ninth spot.
The Warriors never led in the second and third quarters, but they
managed to stay within 72-66 through three periods after trailing by
18 at one point.
Dallas retained a 92-86 advantage after a Monta Ellis driving layup
with 1:26 to go, but the Warriors responded with seven points in a
two-possession, 26.1-second flurry that gave them the lead.
Curry, who also found time for 10 assists, began the sequence with a
3-pointer on which he was fouled by Dallas point guard Jose
Calderon. When Curry completed a four-point play by making the free
throw, suddenly Golden State was down just 92-90 with still 1:16
left.
"That was a momentum-changer," said Warriors backup forward Draymond
Green, who played a key role in the win with nine points, five
rebounds, four assists, two blocked shots and a steal. "The team
always wants to go from six (points down) to three, let alone six to
two. That changed the game for us."
As did a 3-pointer by Green on the Warriors' next possession, giving
Golden State its first lead since the opening period, 93-92, with
49.9 seconds left. "Draymond Green is a winner," Jackson said.
[to top of second column] |
Ellis made one of two free throws three seconds later, creating
a 93-93 tie and setting up the exciting finish.
Ellis, traded by Golden State in March 2012, had a chance to
give the Mavericks a lead with 24.9 seconds left, but he
misfired on a 13-footer. That put Curry, who topped 20 points
for the eighth consecutive game, in a position to be the night's
hero.
"Take the same shot no matter what," Ellis said of his potential
game-winner. "We got everything we wanted. Shots just didn't go
down."
Small forward Harrison Barnes backed Curry with 17 points for
the Warriors, who began a 19-day stretch in which they play
seven of nine at home. Power forward David Lee had a 15-point,
11-rebound double-double, and center Andrew Bogut contributed a
game-high 18 rebounds along with six points.
Nowitzki and Ellis each had 21 points for the Mavericks, who
completed a four-game trip 2-2 after winning the first two
contests. Calderon added 18 points, and Marion had 12.
"The killer is the four-point play," Nowitzki said. "That's a
tough swing there. Just went up six, and give the momentum back
on a play like that."
NOTES: The Mavericks' biggest lead came at 52-34 with 2:19
remaining in the second quarter. ... The four-point play by
Warriors PG Stephen Curry was his second of the season. ...
Asked after the game if he could recall his last game-winning
shot, Curry said, "High school. We blew everybody out at
Davidson, so we didn't need game-winners." ... Mavericks SG
Monta Ellis fell to 4-1 against his old mates since being traded
from the Warriors to the Milwaukee Bucks on March 13, 2012.
Golden State acquired C Andrew Bogut in that six-player deal.
... The Warriors were without starting SF Andre Iguodala
(strained left hamstring) and backup C Jermaine O'Neal (sprained
right wrist). Dallas was missing two key reserves who have yet
to play this season — SG Devan Harris (left foot surgery) and
SF Brandan Wright (fractured left shoulder). The Mavericks
expect Wright to make his season debut during their upcoming
three-game homestand that tips off Saturday against Milwaukee.
... With two centers — C Festus Ezeli (right knee surgery) and
C Ognjen Kuzmic (broken right hand) — out of action, the
Warriors signed C Hilton Armstrong out of the NBA Development
League and immediately suited him up for Wednesday's game.
Armstrong played seven scoreless minutes, grabbing three
rebounds.
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