Bogut, Barnes return to old stomping grounds
Having converted an NBA-record 13 3-pointers on Monday, Stephen Curry’s next goal consists of shooting down the hopes of two friends-turned-foes.
Golden State and its two-time defending MVP will host Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut and the rest of the Mavericks at 10:30 p.m. ET. Online sports book Bovada.lv gives the Warriors odds of -3500 to prevail. Dallas, on the other hand, ventures into Oracle Arena as a +1500 underdog.
Barnes and Bogut were important members of Steve Kerr’s 2014-15 championship squad. They also came one win shy of repeating last June vs.the Cavaliers. Of course, the ignominy of that stunning NBA finals loss compelled Golden State to shake up the established order. After general manager Bob Myers prioritized signing free agent Kevin Durant, the aforementioned frontcourt tandem essentially became salary-cap casualties.
Dallas gladly snatched up Barnes and Bogut. Unfortunately, they’ve hardly been able to energize an increasingly blasé franchise. Rick Carlisle’s troops have dropped five of their past six contests. Besieged by injuries, the Mavs are also embroiled in a tough four-game road trip.
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Conversely, the Warriors feel perfectly fine following an uncharacteristically average start. Curry just torched the Pelicans for 46 points, and he’s liable to do the same against a Dallas club missing perimeter stalwarts Deron Williams (calf) and Devin Harris (toe). Throw in Dirk Nowitzki’s Achilees’-related absence, too, and you clearly understand why the visiting gang possesses no chance of springing the upset here.
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