The Warriors are in the midst of a one-of-a-kind season, and the record they set against the Dallas Mavericks adds another layer to that distinction.
Golden State is still capable of playing with anyone on any given night, even giving some of the league’s heavy hitters fits throughout the season.
Then there is the other side of the coin.
Despite Steph Curry’s epic run at the MVP this season, the Warriors have seen more blowouts than a former championship squad would prefer.
In a game where seeding implications are high, Golden State lost to the Mavs 133-103, and don’t let that final score fool anyone.
It really wasn’t even that close.
The Mavs went on a 28-0 run that made a 12-11 game into a 39-12 humiliation.
The Warriors went a total of nine minutes and 38 seconds without a single point and missed 15 straight shots from the field.
It was so bad that the team went for the longest scoring drought in more than a decade.
Via @EliasSports: "The Warriors went 9 minutes and 38 seconds without scoring, the longest scoring drought in a game since December 6, 2009 when the Bucks went 11:25 without scoring a point against the Cavaliers."
Wow.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) April 28, 2021
Twenty-nine points was all the team could muster in the first half.
Even with Curry on the floor, the Warriors were still outscored by 27 points.
Unsurprisingly, head coach Steve Kerr was not pleased.
Steve Kerr postgame
-"They came out like it was a playoff game. We came out like it was an exhibition."
-"I'm the head coach. I didn't have them ready to play."
-On the blowout Ls: "I thought we were beyond that." pic.twitter.com/FjlibUHeAH
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 28, 2021
It has been a common issue all season long for the Warriors.
When Curry is scoring and draining ridiculously long three-pointers like it’s 2016 and his supporting cast shows up, Golden State can beat just about any team.
When Curry is scoring 27 points and his support just disappears like a failed magic trick, things often get bleak for Dub Nation.
It doesn’t help their cause when they can’t rebound or protect the ball.
The end result is this:
The Warriors are kings of blowout Ls this season. Loss margins after tonight's Dallas bloodbath: 53, 39, 31, 30, 26, 26, 26, 25, 22, 22, 21.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 28, 2021
With this loss, the Warriors are an even 31-31, which is good for 10th in the Western Conference standings, and the final spot for the play-in tournament.
Right now they are 3.5 games ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans for the final playoff spot.