Mavs’ P.J. Washington seals victory over Warriors with clutch layup

Dallas’ P.J. Washington grabbed the leading flag from missing Luka Doncic, delivering a decisive layup with 4.5 seconds remaining to secure a thrilling 108-106 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night. With Doncic sidelined due to a sore knee, Washington stepped up in a big way, notching a season-high 32 points, marking his most prolific performance since joining the Mavericks from Charlotte before the trade deadline. Kyrie Irving also made significant contributions with 26 points, bolstering Dallas’ effort in a crucial Western Conference matchup.

The victory not only halted the Warriors’ impressive six-game winning streak but also solidified the Mavericks’ position in fifth place in the Western Conference standings. With a two-game cushion over the seventh spot, Dallas remains firmly in contention for one of the six guaranteed playoff berths.

Despite a valiant effort from Stephen Curry, who tallied 28 points including a game-tying jumper with 13 seconds remaining, Golden State fell short of clinching a postseason berth. Houston’s loss to Miami earlier in the evening provided the Warriors with an opportunity to secure at least the tenth spot in the West. However, the road defeat to the Mavericks prolonged their quest for a playoff spot, as they now require a win or a Houston loss to secure a spot in the play-in tournament.

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Both teams battled fatigue from a back-to-back, with the game initially postponed following the tragic passing of Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic in January. Doncic’s absence further challenged the Mavericks, as the star guard was ruled out due to right knee soreness after initially being listed as questionable.

Washington’s stellar shooting performance, particularly from beyond the arc where he converted 5 of 8 attempts, proved crucial in filling the void left by Doncic.