The Golden State Warriors gave their home crowd a holiday win, beating the Dallas Mavericks 126-116 on Christmas Day in San Francisco. Stephen Curry had 23 points and delivered the dagger from deep late. Jimmy Butler nearly posted a triple-double. And a fearless rookie, Cooper Flagg, kept Dallas in it with 27 in his Christmas debut. It was a night full of storylines — and a few hints about where both teams are headed.

Curry’s dagger, Butler’s glue: Warriors finish with poise

Golden State’s offense clicked when it needed to. Curry controlled the late moments and hit a key 3-pointer with 3:45 left that pushed the game out of reach. He finished with 23 points and 4 assists, the steady centerpiece around the Warriors’ many moving parts.

But the tone-setter was Jimmy Butler. He read the floor, slowed the game when it sped up, and hunted the right pass. Butler ended with 14 points, 9 assists, and 9 rebounds. It was classic connector play: not loud, but essential. When Curry draws gravity and Butler makes the next decision, Golden State’s half-court offense looks clean and simple.

“This is why you keep the ball with Steph late — calm, clean, clinical.”

Cooper Flagg’s fearless Christmas debut

Dallas can take real hope from Cooper Flagg. The rookie didn’t blink on the big stage, pouring in 27 points on 13-of-21 shooting with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. He attacked gaps, finished through contact, and played with control. For a first Christmas showcase, it was composed and efficient, the kind of performance that says future All-Star potential.

Brandon Williams kept the Mavericks’ bench alive with 26 points, punishing Golden State in the middle quarters. Those two were Dallas’ bright spots, especially after an early injury reduced their frontcourt options.

Anthony Davis exits; Dallas adjusts on the fly

Anthony Davis played just 11 minutes before leaving with groin spasms. He had 3 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 blocks in that short window. Without him, the Mavericks leaned on pace and shot-making from Flagg and Williams to hang around, but the lack of rim pressure and size showed late when Golden State tightened the screws.

“Cooper Flagg looked like he’s been here for years — Dallas found a cornerstone.”

Horford’s return quietly changed the geometry

Al Horford returned from a seven-game absence caused by sciatica and gave the Warriors exactly what they missed: spacing. He scored 14 points and went a perfect 4-for-4 from three. When he entered at the 5:27 mark of the first quarter, the floor opened, and the ball started moving cleaner side-to-side. His pick-and-pop threat forced Dallas to choose between helping on Curry and closing to the arc. Often, they could not do both.

De’Anthony Melton added 16 points, and second-year guard Brandin Podziemski supplied winning plays off the bench with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. This is the formula for Golden State: stars closing, vets spacing, and young legs bringing energy.

“Horford doesn’t need volume, he needs daylight — four triples flipped the spacing.”

Early drought, fast answer: how the game settled

The Warriors actually opened 0-for-6 from deep, a cold spell that could have dented confidence. Moses Moody snapped it with a three at the 6:05 mark of the first quarter, and things leveled from there. The building got louder when Klay Thompson checked in with 5:51 left in the first, his first Bay Area minutes as a Maverick, and when Horford stepped on moments later, Golden State’s offense found its rhythm.

The Warriors led 40-28 after one. That cushion mattered. It allowed Steve Kerr’s group to weather Dallas runs in the second half and control pace late when Curry and Butler took turns in the two-man game.

Klay Thompson’s return and a Bay Area embrace

All eyes were on Klay Thompson, who missed Dallas’ last game with left knee soreness and returned to his old floor with a warm ovation. He and Curry shared a pregame embrace, and the building’s respect was clear. Thompson’s presence added emotion to the night, but Golden State did well to keep the spotlight on the scoreboard and not the sentiment.

Draymond Green starts, drama stays off the floor

After a recent heated exchange with coach Steve Kerr in a game against Orlando, both Green and Kerr apologized. Green started on Christmas and kept it simple: 7 points and 5 rebounds, sturdy defense, and fewer fireworks. For Golden State, calm is a win. When Green channels energy into stops and quick decisions, the Warriors look organized.

Bench swings and small margins

Dallas’ bench had its moment thanks to Williams, but Golden State’s second unit answered in kind. Podziemski’s rebounding and passing kept the Warriors winning the possession game. Melton’s 16 were timely, and Horford’s perfect night from deep punished every slow closeout. Those bench margins often decide NBA games, especially when stars cancel each other out.

Why this matters now

This wasn’t just a holiday showcase. It was a snapshot of how the Warriors can win meaningful games. Curry closes. Butler connects everything. Shooters space the floor. The defense competes without chaos. If they keep that identity, they can stack wins even against hungry, young teams like Dallas.

For the Mavericks, Flagg’s confidence and Williams’ pop are promising signs. The concern is health. If Davis misses time, Dallas will need more rim protection by committee and continued scoring balance to keep pace with top offenses.

What’s next

The Mavericks visit Sacramento on Saturday in a tough road test. The Warriors travel to Toronto on Sunday, looking to turn this Christmas performance into a mini-streak.

On a night packed with storylines, the takeaway was simple: Curry and Butler made the right plays at the right time, and Golden State’s role players made them stick. That’s a winning December recipe that can travel into January.