The Golden State Warriors defeated the Dallas Mavericks 126-116 on Thursday, and to the sporting defeat was added a new injury to Anthony Davis, in a bitter Christmas Day for Jason Kidd’s men.

Davis has played only 16 of the Mavericks’ 32 games this season. Hampered by physical problems, he had missed another 16 in November with a calf injury, from which he returned almost a month ago, giving Dallas a respite after a poor start to the season.
Today, Davis retired in the second quarter with a groin injury, the severity of which is still unknown.

The Warriors (16-15) took advantage of Davis’ absence to dominate this game almost completely, with a maximum difference of +17 in the third quarter.

Stephen Curry scored 23 points – after a poor 2-for-10 shooting from three-point range – De’Anthony Melton scored 16, while Jimmy Butler and Dominican Al Harford had 14 each. Butler also contributed nine assists and seven rebounds.

For the Mavericks (12-20), ‘rookie’ Cooper Flagg scored 27 points, six rebounds and five assists in his Christmas Day debut. Brandon Williams contributed 26 and P.J. Washington had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.