Gameday: Ezeli doubtful; Nowitzki, Pachulia out

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Programming note: Mavs-Warriors coverage starts tonight at 6:30pm with Warriors Pregame Live on CSN Bay Area, and streaming live right here.

OAKLAND – The Warriors don’t want revenge so much as they want another heaping helping of self-satisfaction.

That’s what they’ll look to achieve Wednesday night, when they play host to the Mavericks at Oracle Arena. Dallas is one of four teams to have beaten the Warriors this season but remains the only loss the defending champs have yet to avenge.

Reigning MVP Stephen Curry was sidelined in that Dec. 30 loss in Texas. After beating the Lakers on Tuesday night in Los Angeles, Dallas will rest Dirk Nowitzki.

The Warriors (41-4) are in the midst of a historically impressive stretch, becoming the first team since the Lakers in 1987 to win three of four games by at least 30 points. All three of those Warriors wins came against playoff-caliber opponents.

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They are seeking their 40th consecutive home win, which would tie them with the 1994-95 and 1995-96 Orlando Magic for the second-longest home streak in history.

BETTING LINE

Warriors by 15.5.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Stephen Curry vs. Deron Williams -- It’s New Wave Steph taking it to Old Guard D-Will, who has struggled to find the effectiveness displayed earlier with the Jazz and the Nets. Williams, who seems older than 31, is capable of dialing up his offense. He has scored at least 25 points twice this season, and the Mavs won both games. With Nowitzki out, Williams has to score to keep his team in the contest.

LAST 10

Warriors: 8-2

Mavericks: 5-5.

INJURY REPORT

Warriors: C Festus Ezeli (L knee soreness) is listed as doubtful. F James Michael McAdoo (L foot toe sprain) is listed as out.

Mavericks: G Devin Harris (L foot toe sprain) is listed as doubtful. F Dirk Nowitzki (rest) and C Zaza Pachulia (R Achilles tendon soreness) are listed as out.

SERIES HISTORY

The Warriors lost the first meeting this season, 114-91, on Dec. 30 in Dallas, but have won seven of the last eight meetings overall – including the last five in a row in Oakland.

QUOTABLE

“It’s a challenge, because it was such an emotional game; we really wanted to win that one. But this is also a team that handed us one of our four losses. They kind of smacked us, too, so we want to kind of get even.” – Warriors SG Klay Thompson, on facing the Mavericks after coming off a marquee win over the Spurs.

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