NBA Gameday: Heavily Favored Warriors Welcome Barnes, Mavs

OAKLAND – The Warriors continue their five-game homestand Friday night when they face the Dallas Mavericks, who will bring a couple former teammates to Oracle Arena.

One of them, center Andrew Bogut, will sit out and rest, just as he did when the teams met last month in Oakland.

Forward Harrison Barnes will play. Barnes and Bogut were were key members of the Warriors' 2015 championship team but became expendable in July, when the team signed prize free agent Kevin Durant.

The Warriors (28-5) are heavy favorites in part because they've been superb at home, averaging 124.3 points per game over their last seven. They're 13-2 this season at Oracle.

The Mavericks (10-23), who posted a 101-89 win over the Lakers Thursday night in Los Angeles, will be playing their fourth game in five nights.

TRANSACTIONS

The Warriors recalled rookies Patrick McCaw and Damian Jones Friday morning after the two contributed to the Santa Cruz Warriors' 115-108 win over Northern Arizona Thursday evening. McCaw posted 15 points, six rebounds and four assists in 39 minutes while Jones registered two points, four rebounds, and three assists in 24 minutes.

BETTING LINE

Warriors by 18

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Durant vs. Barnes: KD, who replaced Barnes as Warriors starting forward, outscored HB, 28-25, on Nov. 9 at Oracle. Moreover, Durant added 10 rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot, while Barnes totaled eight rebounds and one assist. Durant leads the Warriors in scoring, rebounding and blocks. Barnes has reached double figures in his first 33 games for the Mavericks, the longest such streak in franchise history.

INJURY REPORT

Warriors: G Pat McCaw (flu-like symptoms) is questionable.

Mavericks: F Dirk Nowitzki (illness) is questionable. C Andrew Bogut (rest) and G J.J. Barea (L leg muscle strain) are listed as out.

LAST 10

Warriors: 8-2. Mavericks: 5-5.

SERIES HISTORY

The Warriors won the first meeting this season, 116-95, on Nov. 9 at Oracle. They have won eight in a row in Oakland and 13 of the last 16 meetings overall.

THREE THINGS TO WATCH

Ball security: The Warriors are in the midst of another of those spells when turnovers become a problem, as over the past three games they have committed 63, off which opponents have scored 80 points. The issue has led to another search for a solution. Consider this a test case to see if there is appreciable improvement.

The tempo game: The Warriors want to run, which has helped them lead the league in scoring (117.3) and field goal percentage (49.7), while ranking third in pace. The Mavericks want to walk. They're last in pace and in scoring (95.0). Dallas' only chance is to dictate pace and keep it close in the fourth quarter.

Curry vs. Curry: Warriors superstar Stephen Curry is practically assured of matching up against his younger brother, Mavericks guard Seth Curry. For them, it'll be like old times on the court at home in North Carolina. For everyone else, it will be fascinating theater.

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