In what was supposed to be a feel-good road win for a battered Golden State Warriors squad, the night ended in agony instead of celebration.
The Warriors outlasted the Dallas Mavericks 137-131 in overtime Monday night at the American Airlines Center, snapping a mini skid and showing remarkable resilience despite missing multiple key pieces. But the victory came at a devastating cost: wing Moses Moody suffered a serious non-contact left knee injury in the final minute of OT, forcing him to be stretchered off the court as stunned teammates and fans watched in silence.
Moses Moody scores 23 before apparently serious injury late as Warriors beat Mavs 137-131 in OT – Newsday
With 1:13 remaining in overtime and Golden State clinging to a slim lead, Moody — who had been a defensive menace all night — poked the ball away from Mavericks rookie sensation Cooper Flagg. He took off for what looked like a wide-open, game-sealing dunk. As Moody planted his left foot to rise for the slam, his knee buckled violently. He collapsed to the floor in a heap, writhing in pain directly under the basket near the Warriors’ bench.
Play continued for several tense seconds while Moody lay motionless. Once the whistle blew, teammates, trainers, and staff rushed over. Arena personnel brought out a stretcher, and the game was paused for several minutes as medical staff attended to him. The 23-year-old was eventually wheeled off the floor, his season — and possibly more — hanging in the balance.
Just hours earlier, Moody’s return had felt like a bright spot. He had missed the previous 10 games with a right wrist sprain, but in his first game back he was electric: 23 points, three steals, and relentless pressure on the highly touted Flagg throughout the second half. Moody’s length and athleticism gave the Warriors exactly the two-way spark they’ve been craving during this injury-plagued stretch.
Instead, the night became another painful chapter in what has been a brutal injury wave for Golden State.
The Warriors are already without superstar Stephen Curry, who has missed the last 22 games with a persistent right knee issue that continues to sideline him. Veteran wing Jimmy Butler III is out for the season after tearing his ACL earlier this year. Now Moody — who had been enjoying a breakout fifth season, averaging a career-high 11.9 points while starting 49 of 60 games — joins the growing list.
Moody is in the first year of a three-year, $39 million contract extension he signed before his fourth season. His emergence as a reliable starter and high-upside wing has been one of the few consistent positives for the Warriors amid their roster turnover and health struggles.
After the game, head coach Steve Kerr didn’t sugarcoat the situation. “We don’t know what it is, but it sure looked bad,” Kerr said. Moody received X-rays immediately, with further imaging and evaluation expected in the coming days. The initial visuals — a non-contact buckle with no defender near him — have fans and analysts fearing the worst: a potential ACL or other major ligament damage.
This latest blow hits especially hard because Moody had finally carved out a significant role. A former lottery pick who spent his early years as a developmental piece, he had blossomed into a starter who could score in bunches, defend multiple positions, and space the floor with his shooting. Losing him now, when the Warriors are fighting for positioning in a crowded Western Conference, feels like a gut punch.
Yet the win itself deserves credit. In a back-and-forth battle against a Mavericks team led by the explosive rookie Flagg, Golden State showed fight. They forced overtime and closed it out with timely buckets and defensive stops. But the post-game locker room was understandably subdued. Wins mean little when they come with the sight of a young player being stretchered away.
For a franchise that has leaned on health and chemistry during its dynasty years, the current injury luck is testing even the most optimistic fans. Curry’s return timeline remains uncertain, Butler’s season is over, and now Moody’s future is unclear. The Warriors’ depth — already stretched thin — will be tested even further in the coming weeks.
As the team flies back home, the focus shifts from celebration to concern. Warriors fans everywhere are holding their breath, hoping the X-rays bring better news than the horrifying replay suggests.
One thing is certain: this 2025-26 season has been anything but ordinary for Golden State. Resilience has defined them so far. Now they’ll need every ounce of it to navigate whatever comes next.