(AFP) - The Golden State Warriors fizzled without sizzling Stephen Curry on Wednesday, falling 91-114 to the Mavericks in Dallas in just their second defeat of the NBA season.

The Mavericks made the most of Curry's absence with a lower left-leg injury.

Dallas raced to an early 17-point lead and led by as many as 30.

An MRI exam of Curry's sore leg revealed no structural damage.

"As long as it's not anything serious, we're fine that he might need a couple of days to heal," Golden State interim coach Luke Walton said.

But with Curry watching from the bench, the Warriors were in trouble throughout.

The Mavericks led 60-42 at half-time and with forward Harrison Barnes, backup guard Leandro Barbosa and reserve centre Festus Ezeli also all sidelined by injury, Walton could do little to turn the tide.

Golden State guard Klay Thompson had one of his worst nights of the season, connecting on just 4-of-15 shots from the floor and one of two from the free throw line for 10 points, his lowest contribution since Nov 11.

Uncharacteristically sluggish offensively, the Warriors were also ineffective on defence.

Thirty-two of the Mavericks' 60 first-half points came in the paint, where they held a 22-point advantage at the interval.

Dallas built the lead to 83-53 with 5min 5sec left in the third.

Dallas guard J.J. Barea, making his fourth-straight start in place of injured Deron Williams, scored a game-high 23 points that included a Curry-like five of seven from three-point range.

Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki had 18 points and eight rebounds, centre ZaZa Pachulia posted his 17th double-double of the season with 14 points and 15 rebounds, and guards Wesley Matthews and Devin Harris contributed 13 points each.

The Warriors, who will try to bounce back against the Rockets in Houston on Thursday, fell to 29-2 - still a record-setting season start that Mavs coach Rick Carlisle called "completely remarkable".