Dallas Mavericks face monumental challenge against history-chasing Warriors

Mavericks at Warriors

9:30 p.m. Friday, Oracle Arena, Oakland, Calif.

TV: FSSW

Radio: ESPN/103.3 FM, ESPN/1540 AM (Spanish)

Records: Mavs 35-36;

Warriors 64-7

About the Mavericks: Dallas plays the second of a four-game road trip that started with Wednesday’s 109-103 loss in Portland to the Trail Blazers. ... The Mavs play in Sacramento on Sunday and in Denver on Monday before returning home to face the New York Knicks on Wednesday. … Mired in a tight battle with Portland, Utah and Houston for the final three playoff spots in the West, the Mavs are 15-19 on the road and 22-21 against Western Conference foes. ... Salah Mejri made his first start Wednesday against Portland and produced his second straight double-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds and one block.

About the Warriors: While other teams are chasing playoff seedings and making vacation plans, the history-chasing Warriors are playing basketball like they’re in another world. If the Warriors go at least 9-2 over the final 11 games, they’ll break the Chicago Bulls’ NBA record of 72-10 set in 1995-96. ... The Warriors are 2-1 against the Mavs this season, including a 114-91 loss in Dallas on Dec. 30 when Stephen Curry was out with an injury. ...Curry averages 30.1 points to lead the NBA.

This story was originally published March 24, 2016 at 9:36 PM with the headline "Dallas Mavericks face monumental challenge against history-chasing Warriors."