An Afternoon to Remember at Chase Center: Warriors Dominate Mavericks in Statement Win

By Yusuf Kose/ San Francisco /habername.com

Sun Feb 24, 2025

There’s something special about watching a game in person, especially at Chase Center. For the first time, I had the opportunity to experience the electric atmosphere courtside, an hour before tipoff, witnessing the pregame routine of Stephen Curry up close. While I had seen his warm-up routine on TV countless times, being there in person was a whole new experience. What stood out the most was how upset he seemed after every missed shot, treating every attempt as if it had to go in. The dedication and perfectionism were unreal.

The energy inside Chase Center was at its peak, especially with Klay Thompson returning to the Bay. As the Warriors’ lineup was announced, Klay’s demeanor seemed a bit somber, walking around almost lost in thought. But the moment his name was called, the crowd erupted, showing just how much love the Baystill has for him.

This game had high stakes, as both the Warriors and Mavericks were neck-and-neck in the Western Conference standings. Entering with a 29-27 record, Golden State had a chance to close the gap on Dallas, who stood just one spot above them at 31-26. Add to that the anticipation surrounding Jimmy Butler’s home debut for the Warriors and Andre Iguodala’s jersey retirement, and the stage was set for an unforgettable night.

Curry locks in during warm-ups, captivating the Chaser Center crowd.

First Quarter: A Statement Start

The Mavericks got off to a quick start with Dante Exum scoring a layup and immediately picking up Curry full court. After a missed shot from Butler, P.J. Washington knocked down a three to extend Dallas' lead. But it didn’t take long for the Warriors to respond. Curry got on the board with a layup, and after a timeout called by Golden State, he wasted no time creating offense. A steal led to a Moody three-pointer, followed by back-to-back assists from Curry, igniting the Warriors' offense.

The chemistry between Curry and Draymond Green was on full display, orchestrating possessions like they had telepathic communication. Curry drilled a tough step-back three over Washington to push the Warriors' lead to 17-9, quickly tallying 7 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists with over five minutes left in the quarter. Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving struggled early, going 0-for-5 from the field despite getting good looks.

With Curry on the bench late in the quarter, the Warriors didn’t slow down. Butler stepped up, hitting a mid-range jumper and a pair of free throws, while Podziemski drained a three and finished a tough reverse layup. The Warriors' defense fueled their offense, leading to several fast-break points. By the end of the first quarter, Golden State held a commanding 33-18 lead, with Curry leading the charge with 10 points and Butler contributing 8.

Curry calmly sinks two free throws, extending the Warriors' lead.

Second Quarter: Butler’s Impact and Mavs’ Fightback

The second quarter started with Klay and Kyrie back on the floor. Irving finally got on the board with a tip-in layup, but the Mavericks still struggled to generate consistent offense. Frustration boiled over for Klay, as he picked up a technical foul after arguing a no-call on a three-point attempt, followed shortly by a charge call against him.

The Warriors continued to dominate, with a thunderous dunk extending their lead to 41-20 and forcing a Mavericks timeout. Surprisingly, Butler showcased his playmaking ability, racking up three assists midway through the quarter. The Mavericks needed more from Kyrie, who finally hit a three to trim the lead to 13 points.

Golden State’s offense cooled off momentarily, missing a few open looks, allowing Dallas to gain some momentum. But with Curry back in, the Warriors regained control. A brilliant sequence of defense, transition buckets, and precise ball movement saw the lead balloon back to 23. By halftime, the Warriors led 61-44, with Curry and Butler each posting 14 points.

Klay gets shots up at halftime

Third Quarter: Curry’s Masterclass

Klay opened the third quarter with his first points of the night, draining a three-pointer. The Warriors maintained their dominance behind Curry’s orchestrating, trading tough layups with Kyrie in an entertaining back-and-forth. Moody’s contributions on both ends were crucial, while Curry and Draymond continued to dissect the Mavericks’ defense.

Curry's ability to create offense without even having the ball was on full display. Constantly moving off-ball, he drained back-to-back contested threes, pushing the lead to 93-70. The crowd erupted as he followed that up with a tough floater, making defenders look like traffic cones. By the end of the third, he had 30 points, solidifying himself as the best player on the court. With the Warriors up 100-75, it was clear that this game was all but over.

Curry walks away after setting up Draymond for an easy bucket, the duo's chemistry on full display.

Fourth Quarter: Sealing the Deal

With Curry resting on the bench, the Warriors’ energy remained high. Butler continued to make plays, hitting a fadeaway over Kyrie and celebrating with the classic “too small” gesture. Podziemski, acting as the cleanup crew for Curry, drained a three to extend the lead to 111-82, forcing a Dallas timeout.

With eight minutes left, the Mavericks waved the white flag, pulling Kyrie and Klay from the game. Kerr followed suit, subbing out Draymond and Butler shortly after. In garbage time, Quinten Post showed promise with his size, aggression, and ability to stretch the floor. Gui Santos closed out the scoring with a three-pointer, putting the exclamation mark on a dominant 126-102 victory.

Kyrie stands on the court, waiting for the fourth quarter to begin, down 25.

Final Thoughts: A Statement Win

This game was a statement win for the Warriors. They not only outplayed Dallas in every aspect but showed that their new-look roster can maintain leads even when Curry and Draymond are off the floor. Their defense forced 10 steals and 8 blocks, while their transition play resulted in 30 fast-break points.

Curry led the way with 30 points in just 28 minutes, showcasing a masterful performance. Butler had 18 points and played a pivotal role in both scoring and playmaking, while Podziemskiimpressed with 17 points and 13 rebounds. The Curry-Draymond connection was as lethal as ever, dictating the game’s tempo.

With this win, the Warriors improved to 5-1 since acquiring Butler and moved just half a game behind Dallas in the standings. If this game was any indication, Golden State might be gearing up for a serious postseason push.

And for me? My first Chase Center experience couldn’t have been better. Watching greatness up close, feeling the energy of the crowd, and witnessing an elite performance—this was a night to remember.

All photos in this article were taken by me personally.