P.J. Washington’s Return Boosts Mavericks Ahead of Warriors Matchup: “It Feels Great to Be Back”

After a 118-104 loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup Quarterfinals, the Dallas Mavericks will face the Golden State Warriors for an add-on game on Sunday at Chase Center. The Mavs practiced on Saturday—marking the second consecutive day of practices—before departing for San Francisco.

P.J. Washington, who missed Thursday’s game due to illness, is no longer on the injury report and is eager to make an impact upon his return. He’s averaging 12.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 19 regular games.

“It feels great,” Washington said about being back. “Obviously, I wasn’t feeling good, so I’m just happy to be feeling better and back with the guys.”

“When I’m on the floor, I try to be a presence vocally, helping everyone get in the right spots and controlling the glass,” he added. “I focus on doing all the little things a team needs to win. That’s my main focus every night.”

The team’s 15-4 record when Washington plays versus 1-5 when he doesn’t underscores his importance to their success. The ability to guard multiple positions, make defensive rotations, rebound, and provide a complementary offensive impact are key ways he enhances the lineup. He’s ready to step in and be one of the defensive anchors for this group against Golden State.

“I take pride in my versatility and my ability to guard anyone—smalls, bigs, it doesn’t matter,” Washington said. “Being vocal and active defensively is something I take pride in.”

Revisiting the Last Matchup with the Golden State Warriors

The last matchup against Golden State was a hard-fought game on November 12, with the Mavericks falling 120-117. Stephen Curry’s late-game heroics, including a deep three-pointer with under 30 seconds remaining, sealed the Warriors’ win. Curry finished with 37 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds, dominating the clutch moments. Washington was sidelined for that game.

Now that he was back in the lineup, Washington emphasized the importance of his role, particularly against a tough opponent like Golden State.

“They’re a really good team, and they play hard,” Washington said. “Last game, they got a lot of offensive rebounds, and we turned the ball over a few times. From watching that game, I think we only lost by three. Going into this one, it’s about focusing on those little things and being better.”

As Washington noted, Dallas struggled with turnovers and rebounding in that game, issues they will look to address on Sunday. The Mavericks committed 17 turnovers that led to 21 points for Golden State, and the Warriors grabbed 18 offensive rebounds—critical areas that impacted the outcome. Golden State’s aggressive pace out of halftime resulted in a pivotal 20-3 run that gave them control of the game.

Updates on Injured Dallas Mavericks

Naji Marshall remains on the injury report due to an upper respiratory illness and will not play against the Warriors. Marshall was not seen at the practice facility during the Saturday evening viewing portion. Maxi Kleber (illness) and Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain) are also listed as out.

Kleber, Hardy, and Danté Exum did not practice on Saturday, though Kleber worked on conditioning and got shots up on Friday, indicating progress in his recovery.

Exum remains out as he recovers from wrist surgery. While Exum worked out, he continues to wear a brace on his right wrist for protection. Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd noted Exum’s determination to stay engaged, highlighting his ability to adapt his game during recovery.

“He’s doing a lot of work with his left hand,” Kidd said. “It’s been impressive to see him stay involved and find ways to contribute despite the injury.”

The Mavericks have relied on their next-man-up mentality during a challenging stretch of injuries and illnesses.

“At the end of the day, it’s what we signed up for,” Washington said. “No excuses. We’re excited to go into each game and try to get a win. That doesn’t change, and everyone’s pushing through.”

Keys for Dallas Mavericks to Beat the Golden State Warriors

As the Mavericks prepare to face the Warriors, they focus on minimizing turnovers and improving rebounding, key areas identified in their previous matchups.

“Turnovers were a big issue in that game,” Washington said. “We can’t give teams like that the opportunity to come down and score again. We need to make the most of our possessions, be patient, stay strong with the ball, and play our style of basketball. I think we got in our own heads a bit, but it’s going to be a great game for us.”

The Mavericks aim to build on their Saturday practice as they take on the Warriors on Sunday night.