Preview of the Warriors’ lineup ahead of the Mavericks’ NBA Cup consolation game

The Dallas Mavericks play another away game on Sunday night in the NBA Cup, a consolation game between them and the Golden State Warriors that ensures they play more games away from the American Airlines Center than at home. The two teams are currently right next to each other in the Western Conference standings, with Dallas in fourth and Golden State in fifth, both firmly in the running for a top spot at this early point in the season.

The Warriors have two players listed as questionable on the injury report for the Dec. 15 game at star guard Steph Curry suffers from sore throat and wing infections Andrew Wiggins Dealing with adductor tension. Considering the Warriors have struggled recently, losing seven of their last nine games after an impressive start to the year, the possibility of these two players missing could have a drastic impact on a game they morally need to win. wing Moses Moody is also listed on the injury report and will miss the game, which is marked “out.”

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The Warriors recently acquired a point guard Dennis Schröder from the Brooklyn Nets, carrying away an injured man De’Anthony Meltonwho is out for the season with a torn ACL and a few second-round picks. While it’s unclear whether Schröder will play Sunday night, he would be the likely starter if Curry were to miss the game. The other guard station is introduced Buddy Hieldan additional sniper who averages 14.5 points on 38.6% shooting from distance. It’s clear that Golden State is eager to continue shooting three-balls, as they rank fourth in the NBA in such shots this season.

If the Warriors are short on Wiggins at the small forward position, they will use a mix Brandin Podziemski And Kyle Anderson to supplement this protocol. You will also use Draymond Green at this point, when he’s not playing as a small-ball midfielder, a strategy they’ve used frequently in 2024. Jonathan Kuminga played power forward and averaged 15.2 points and 4.5 rebounds on the year with inconsistent efficiency (44% on field goals and 31% from deep).

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The central rotation is the green mentioned above Kevon Looney And Trayce Jackson Davis. Golden State head coach Steve Kerr has a very deep rotation with 13 players averaging double-digit minutes, but the potential injury limitations may require them to use more reserves than they normally do.

Even if Curry and Wiggins play, Dallas should still win this game even though they are on the floor Naji Marshall (illness) and Jaden Hardy (Ankle). At this point in the season, the Mavericks are simply playing better basketball and have a much deeper roster from a talent perspective. If they get the production they have from not only their stars but also their role players, they should avenge their 120-117 loss earlier this year and leave the Bay Area with a win.

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