NEW DELHI: Despite the termination of Luka Doncic’s amazing streak of triple-doubles, the Dallas Mavericks used the defensive brilliance of their big men, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, to defeat the Golden State Warriors 109-99 on Wednesday night.Gafford and Lively demonstrated their shot-blocking abilities, combining for an impressive 22 points, 14 rebounds, and nine blocks.Their defensive performances helped the Mavericks record their second win of the season while scoring fewer than 112 points, extending their winning streak to four games.

Gafford led the defensive charge, recording seven blocks, one shy of his career high. Meanwhile, Lively contributed significantly on both ends of the court, scoring 12 points on 6-for-8 shooting while collecting eight rebounds and adding two blocks to his defensive stats.Jonathan Kuminga led the Warriors in scoring with 27 points, but Golden State was missing Stephen Curry, who sat out for the third game in a row with a sprained right ankle, and Draymond Green, who was a late scratch due to a lower back ailment.Doncic, who had seven consecutive triple-doubles, finished with 21 points, nine assists, and three rebounds in the game.

Despite shooting troubles, the Mavericks maintained control of the game, holding the Warriors to a single field goal in the final minutes to secure an 87-72 lead.Kyrie Irving led the way for Dallas with 23 points and 10 assists, while Gafford and Lively anchored the defence with their shot-blocking abilities. The Mavericks won their second game against the Warriors this season, thanks to contributions from Josh Green, P.J. Washington, and others, demonstrating their depth and tenacity in the face of a difficult opponent.