NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks
Dirk celebrates after a big shot vs. OKC. Reuters

The stretch run of the NBA regular season features a four-team race for three playoff spots in the Western Conference. Two of those squads are the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks and they face each other on Tuesday night at the American Airlines Center in Dallas Texas.

The Warriors (45-28) have lost two of their last three games and need to get back on the winning track as Dallas (44-30) is just 1 and 1/2 game back for the 6th spot in the West. The Mavericks have struggled of late as well splitting the past six outings 3-3.

Golden State’s problems have been out of their control as their starting big men have been plagued with injuries. Both Andrew Bogut and David Lee (hamstring) were out of commission in their 89-84 loss to the New York Knicks last Wednesday. The pair plus starting small forward Andre Iguodala are doubtful to suit up against Dallas.

Stephen Curry's 32 points led the charge for the Warriors which also got good contributions off Jermaine O'Neal (8 points and 12 rebounds) and Klay Thompson (15 points and 9 rebounds).

Meanwhile, the Mavs struggled against the Sacramento Kings in their last game but nonetheless pulled off the 103-100 victory.

Six players ended up in double-figure scoring for Dallas led by Dirk Nowitzki's 19 points. The German forward also added 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Monta Ellis finished with 17 markers and 6 dimes and Samuel Dalembert had 15 points and 3 blocked shots.

This is the fourth and final meeting between these two squads with the Warriors taking the season series edge, 2-1. The Mavericks won the first meeting back in November to the tune of 103-99. The Warriors bounced back in the next two, winning with scores of 95-93 in December and 108-85 on March 11.

Watch this crucial game between the Warriors and Mavericks via NBA League Pass.