The set-up: The Warriors are well aware that wins and losses in December are not 'life and death. Golden State made sure to wait until Stephen Curry was 100 percent before bringing him back from an ankle injury, keeping him out for 11 straight games (Warriors were 9-2 in that span). Curry certainly appeared healthy in his first game back going 12-of-17 from the floor in 26 minutes (including 10-of-13 from three-point range), while scoring 38 points in Saturday's 141-128 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. "I was just happy to be back out there with my guys," Curry told reporters. "You sit and watch for 11 games, you just wonder what it's going to be like to get back out there, and I finally got that opportunity. I really didn't know what to expect. I just wanted to get some good reps, get up and down, see how my wind was and, surprisingly, I think my body felt way better than I expected." The Warriors' 29-8 record is an NBA-best as they visit the 13-25 Dallas Maverick. It's been a rough start for Dallas but the Mavs do welcome the Warriors to town on the heels of a four-game winning streak. Dallas is back home after an impressive (surprising?) three-game road trip in which the Mavs bested the Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder. "We're playing better, and we're doing better in these situations," Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters after his team held off the Thunder 116-113. "Guys just hung together and found a way to close it out, and it's not easy with those three superstars that they've got. But we did it as a team with stops, made some big plays, and it will be a happy new year."

Golden State: Curry was on a minutes restriction Saturday but will be eased back into a heavier load and is expected to play both ends of a back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday, when Golden State heads to Houston. His presence seemed to have a positive impact on the rest of the lineup as well, with the Warriors shooting 58.8 percent from the floor and handing out 37 assists on 50 field goals against Memphis. However, one person Curry can't influence is the talented but oh-so frustrating Draymond Green. He picked up two quick technical fouls in the second quarter and was ejected, bringing his total number of technical fouls to an NBA-high 10 on the season.

Dallas: The Mavs' four wins have come by an average of five PPG but a ":W" is a "W." Rookie PG Dennis Smith Jr. is one reason the team is beginning to pull out close games. Smith recorded his first career triple-double in Friday's win at New Orleans and followed that up with 19 points and six assists in the victory over the Thunder. "(Smith) was great tonight," Carlisle told reporters after beating Oklahoma City. "He finished the game with a couple of big baskets and some big free throws.Smith is averaging 13.8-4.1-4.3 on the season and is the team's second-leading scorer. SF Harrison Barnes (18.4 & 6.7) leads the team in scoring (like last year) and while Dirk (12.1 & 5.7) is not the player he once was, his presence is a plus. Guards Barea, Harris and Matthews are also all in double digits, with backup PG Ferrell just missing at 9.9 PPG.

The pick: The Warriors have won the last eight in the series (including a 112-97 home win on Dec. 14), as Dallas' problem is trying to keep up with the Warriors on the scoreboard. The math just doesn't work. The Warriors average 115.2 PPG (2nd0 on 50.8% shooting (1st), including 39.0% on threes (also 1st). Meanwhile, Dallas averages just 101.0 PPG (27th) and must try to match Golden State basket-for-basket going against a defense holding opponents to an NBA-low 43.0% from the floor. Do not expect Dallas to in any way contain Golden State but I will note that Dallas has scored 100-plus points in five of its last seven (two misses came when the team scord 98 points), including ringing up 128 and 116 points in the team's last two outings. Make the Over an 8* play.