Mavs' Last Stand Against Golden State: Dončić Can't Do It Alone

Dallas rolls into Chase Center tonight staring down a three-game losing streak, and honestly, things feel a little desperate. They just got smacked by the Kings, 129-113, on Tuesday, where Luka Dončić put up 27 points and 10 assists but looked exhausted doing it. Before that, it was the Blazers by 28, and a tight one-point loss to the Lakers. Not exactly a murderer's row of opponents, and it’s a bad sign when you’re dropping games to teams like Portland who are openly tanking.

Look, this Mavericks season has been a mess. They’re 23-48, way down at 13th in the Western Conference. That's not what anyone expected after last year’s run to the conference finals. It's a roster that, outside of Luka, just hasn't clicked. Kyrie Irving, acquired at the trade deadline, has played only 16 games for Dallas, and even in those, the team is just 7-9. His 27.0 points per game are great, but the team defense has been atrocious, giving up 117.8 points per 100 possessions since he arrived.

Thing is, Golden State isn't exactly lighting the world on fire either, sitting at 33-38 and clinging to the 10th spot in the West. They’re coming off a 121-115 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday, where Steph Curry went for 29 points but shot just 3-of-12 from deep. Klay Thompson couldn't buy a bucket either, finishing with 11 points on 4-of-17 shooting. The Warriors have been incredibly inconsistent at home this year, a shocking 26-10 record at Chase Center last season, but a middling 20-15 this year.

This game is going to be all about which superstar can drag his team across the finish line. Dončić is averaging a ridiculous 32.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.1 assists this season. He's carrying an offensive burden almost unmatched in the league. But you can see it wearing on him. In their last three losses, he’s shot 42% from the field. That's not terrible, but it's not the hyper-efficient Luka we're used to seeing when he’s feeling fresh.

And let’s be real, the Mavs' supporting cast has gone missing far too often. Christian Wood had 16 points against the Kings, but he’s been a wildly inconsistent third option since coming over from Houston. Tim Hardaway Jr. has been streaky all year, and the defense outside of Dorian Finney-Smith (before he was traded) has been nonexistent. Dallas is giving up 116.7 points per game, 25th in the league. You can't win consistently like that, even with Luka magic.

Here's my hot take: this Mavericks team, even with Dončić and Irving, is fundamentally broken. They won't make the play-in tournament. Tonight against the Warriors, we’re going to see another classic Curry performance, reminding everyone why he’s one of the greatest. Dallas will hang around for a bit, maybe even lead at halftime, but they don't have the defensive grit or the collective focus to close out a tough road game against a playoff-hungry team.

Golden State wins this one comfortably, 125-115. Dončić will put up his usual numbers, but he’ll be looking around for help that just isn’t there. The skid extends to four games, and the Mavericks' postseason hopes officially flatline.