DALLAS _ For weeks, the tired, slumping Warriors couldn't string together a complete performance _ either losing or narrowly winning all nine games from February 28th to March 14th.
But a return home, some needed rest and some extra time to adjust to Kevin Durant's injury has rejuvenated the Warriors back into who they've been much of the past three seasons: dominant, sharp-shooting world-beaters, the king of the regular season blowout.
The result: Five straight wins and four straight of the monster variety, capped on Tuesday night with a 112-87 rout of a veteran, desperate Mavericks team fighting for a playoff spot.
The turnaround started back on March 14, when the Warriors, fresh off that 8-game, 8-city, 13-day gauntlet, finally sprung to life in a 28-14 fourth quarter to erase a 12-point deficit and beat the Sixers. From there, they bashed the Magic and Bucks by 30 and 25 points.
But those nine electric quarters came in friendly Oracle against lottery-bound Eastern Conference pushovers. The question entering this week: Could they build on that momentum on the road against two quality West opponents?
The answer: Yes, in a resounding way. The Warriors snapped the Thunder's five-game win streak with a 16-point laugher on Monday night, then shed some early jet-lag to completely control Tuesday night's game in Dallas. Four straight blowout wins by a combined 96 points.
What's been the biggest difference? The 3-point shooting. During their extended slump, the Warriors shot sub-30 percent from deep, going 6 of 30 from 3 in separate losses to the Bulls and Celtics.
But the numbers are evening back up quickly. The Warriors went 12 of 23 from deep against the Bucks, 15 of 33 against the Thunder and 13 of 30 on Tuesday night in Dallas.
After the most extended cold streak of his career, Steph Curry has rediscovered his shooting groove, nailing 16 of his 29 3s the past three games. That included a timely third quarter 3 on Tuesday night in Dallas, stemming a brief Mavericks rally with a couple nifty layups sandwiched by a deep left wing, contested 3.
Steph, who finished with 17 points and nine assists in 30 minutes, won the family battle over younger brother Seth, who struggled through a 10-point, 12-shot night.
And most important for the eldest Curry? He rested the entire fourth quarter for a fourth straight blowout win, essentially adding a full game of rest to his body without actually having to sit a meaningful second.
But his backcourt mate, Klay Thompson, was the game's most impactful player. Thompson's recent shooting slump coincided with the Warriors recent woes. His reemergence has produced the same result. During this five-game win streak, Thompson has gone 5 of 9, 5 of 9, 3 of 6, 7 of 15 and, on Tuesday night, 5 of 8 from 3. He scored 23 points against the Mavericks and rested much of the fourth quarter again.
But beyond the stars, the Warriors got plenty of production elsewhere. Missing Andre Iguodala, who rested with some minor hip tightness, Ian Clark pounced off the bench to score 18 points, despite missing all four of his 3s. Clark used the teardrop floater several times for some crafty layups.
Matt Barnes nailed both of his 3s, Patrick McCaw made several key plays and David West turned back the clock for a massive dunk in the second quarter, which sparked a raucous reaction from Kevin Durant and a joyful Warrior bench, who seem to be in prime spirits during this recent win streak.
The victory put the Warriors up three games over San Antonio for the top seed.
