The Dallas Mavericks are heading into a big one against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on Sunday. There’s a lot on the line. Both teams are jostling for position in the Western Conference playoff race, so this game could end up making a real difference. The Mavs have been on a roll, winning five of their last six. Meanwhile, the Warriors have taken four of their last five. So yeah, buckle up—this one’s going to be fun.

And to make things even more interesting, Jimmy Butler is making his home debut for Golden State after that huge trade from Miami. Then, after the game, the Warriors are retiring Andre Iguodala’s No. 9 jersey. Chase Center is going to be buzzing. But for Dallas, all that extra noise doesn’t matter. They’ve got one job: push through their growing list of injuries and get a win that keeps them in control of their playoff destiny.

P.J. Washington’s status raises concerns

The biggest headache for Dallas? No Anthony Davis. He’s still out with a left adductor strain after playing just one game since arriving in that blockbuster Luka Doncic trade. And man, what a game that was—25.7 points, 12 boards, 3.4 assists. But now he’s sidelined again. The Mavs won’t even re-evaluate him until March 6, so they’ll have to survive without their All-Star big man for at least a little while longer.

P.J. Washington’s status is up in the air with an ankle sprain. That’s another big question mark. He leads the team in rebounding (8.2 per game) and chips in 14.5 points a night. If he can’t go, things could get rough in the paint. Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and Caleb Martin are all out too. And if that wasn’t enough, Dwight Powell is doubtful with a hip strain.

With all these injuries, the Mavs had to bring in Moses Brown on a 10-day contract just to have another body. But let’s be real—it’s tough to expect much from him against a Warriors squad that thrives on versatility and speed.

On the other side, Golden State is missing Jonathan Kuminga. That’s a blow for them, but compared to what Dallas is dealing with? The Warriors are looking pretty healthy.

What’s next for the Mavericks?

Even with all these setbacks, the Mavericks are hanging in there. They’re 31-26 and holding onto an eighth-place spot in the West, 1.5 games ahead of Golden State. If they win this one, they lock up the season tiebreaker. That could be a massive advantage later on.

Kyrie Irving has been carrying the load offensively, and he’s been nothing short of spectacular. With Luka sidelined, he’s putting up 24.9 points a game, along with 4.7 boards and 4.8 assists. And lately, he’s been on another level. He’s scored 30+ points in his last three games, including a monster 42-point night against the Warriors a couple of weeks ago. If the Mavs are going to pull this one out, he’s going to have to go off again.

And then there’s Klay Thompson, who seems to be settling into his role with Dallas. He’s averaging 13.8 points. Let’s not forget—this will be his first game back at Chase Center since leaving the Warriors. You know he’s going to be playing with some extra fire.

Other guys are stepping up too. Naji Marshall and Dante Exum have been solid, especially with so many big men out. The Mavs are still outscoring opponents by 2.3 points per game, ranking 11th in scoring (115.6 PPG). They’ve also been holding their own on the boards—though that could change without Davis and Lively anchoring the paint.

Sunday’s game is a real gut check for Dallas. No AD, no Lively, no Gafford. It’s going to take a full-team effort to pull this off. But if Irving and Thompson catch fire, they’ve got a shot. The Warriors are going to be amped up with Butler’s home debut and Iggy’s jersey retirement. Dallas will have to match that energy from the jump.

This one’s about more than just the standings. It’s a statement game, and we’ll see if the Mavs are up for it.