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[Saba Sports News] The Golden State Warriors’ unbeaten run in the Jimmy Butler III era came to an end with a 111-107 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.
Struggles finishing at the rim, poor three-point shooting, and a red-hot performance from Kyrie Irving all played a role in the defeat.
A crucial moment came with 17.6 seconds left when officials overturned Butler’s game-tying layup, ruling that Irving had established a legal guarding position after the Warriors challenged an offensive foul call.
Irving, who drew the charge, also torched the Warriors with 42 points on 15-of-25 shooting, while former Golden State star Klay Thompson added 17 for Dallas.
Butler, who has looked like an All-Star since his trade from Miami, wasn’t pleased with his performance.
“I hate turning the ball over,” Butler said postgame. “That’s not what I’m supposed to be doing. That’s tough. I gotta be better—especially late in the game. It is what it is now.”
In 35 minutes, Butler put up 21 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and a block but also committed three turnovers and three fouls. He shot 8-of-17 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, finishing with a -17 plus-minus.
While Butler has historically maintained a low turnover rate—averaging just 1.6 per game since 2021-22—he wasn’t alone in this struggle, as three other Warriors also recorded at least three giveaways.
The Warriors entered this matchup with a golden opportunity, facing a Mavericks squad missing its top four big men. Despite dominating the glass, Golden State couldn’t capitalize, as Dallas countered with superior perimeter shooting and Irving’s heroics.
Butler is still working back to full conditioning, and it showed in this game. His energy wasn’t at the same level as in previous outings, affecting his shooting efficiency, defensive impact, and ball security. While it was a tough loss, considering the circumstances, he deserves some slack.
Both teams quickly turn the page, with the Warriors facing the Rockets in Houston and the Mavericks hosting the Heat on Thursday night.