It is a fact that the Golden State Warriors are quite the injured squad. Consider that in Tuesday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, they only had eight players suited up while only 6 actually played, not to mention that coach Don Nelson was down with a case of pneumonia. But to be fair, the Mavericks were without Josh Howard, Shawn Marion and Erick Dampier due to injury. Sounds like a handicap doesn’t it? At first glance, yes. But a pair of Warriors – Monta Ellis and Anthnoy Morrow – stepped up to the plate offensively. Both combined for 64 points, leading Golden State past Dallas 111-103 at American Airlines Center.

The first quarter was one of attrition as Quinton Ross put the Mavericks up 10-3 with 9:23 remaining, but Anthony Randolph made a pair of free throws which allowed the Warriors to take their first lead of the game at 19-17 with 3:17 left in the period. They would lose their lead but would remain within two at 27-25 entering the second quarter. Period number two would be nip-and-tuck as neither team would hold a lead more than four; the Mavericks would take that 4-point lead going into halftime.

The third quarter was much like the previous period, although Jose Juan Barea but Golden State would narrow their deficit down to four on an Ellis three-point play with 7 seconds left in the frame. Dallas would increase their lead to nine on a Jason Terry jumper with 6:09 remaining in the game; Stephen Curry’s 3-pointer would ice the game for Golden State with 2:20 remaining.

Ellis lead the Warriors with 37 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals but turned the ball over 11 times while Morrow added 27 (including 6 three-pointers) with 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals; Curry pitched in 18 with 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals while Vladimir Radmanovic poured in 14 with 12 rebounds and 4 steals.

Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 28 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block while Terry added 21 with 3 rebounds and 4 assists; Drew Gooden poured in 14 with 12 rebounds, a steal and 3 blocks. Golden State (5-8) plays again on Wednesday as they make the short trip to San Antonio to take on the Spurs while Dallas (10-4) goes south to Houston to face the Rockets – also on Wednesday night.