By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015

photo credit: USA Today Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors

With Stephen Curry – the NBA’s leading scorer – sidelined with a leg injury, the Dallas Mavericks had their way on Wednesday, handing the Golden State Warriors their second loss of the season, winning 114-91 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

J.J. Barea, filling in for injured point guard Deron Williams, canned 23 points for the Mavs. Draymond Green and Klay Thompson scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Warriors, who dropped to 29-2.

Zaza Pachulia sparked Dallas with 14 points and 15 rebounds as the Mavericks won their fourth straight game. Dirk Nowitzki contributed 18 points and eight rebounds for the Mavs.

Golden State fell behind for good four minutes into the game. Dallas built a 75-49 lead midway through the third quarter, and took an 83-53 lead on Wesley Matthews’ 3-pointer. The Warriors never got any closer than 17 points.

Interim coach Luke Walton cleared the bench for the final five minutes in the Warriors’ third straight loss without Curry. The first two occurred last season.

Curry isn’t the only Warrior on the shelf. Center Festus Ezeli is out with a toe injury, reserve guard Leandro Barbosa has a sprained left shoulder and forward Harrison Barnes, nursing a sprained left ankle, didn’t make the trip to Texas. Coach Steve Kerr, on the DL all season with complications from back surgery, made the trip to see how his sore back would hold up. Kerr made a similar trip to Los Angeles in November. Walton said there is no timetable for Kerr’s return to the bench.

The Warriors will try to return to the win column Thursday at Houston.