At a time when every game is critical in a three-team battle between the Warriors, Mavericks and Nuggets for two playoff spots in the Western Conference, Golden State will spend this week on the road. That's not as bad as it sounds.

Yeah, the competition (most of it, anyway) will be stiff -- the Spurs, Mavericks, Grizzlies and Hornets. But the Warriors have yet to have a non-winning trip of four or more games this season, having gone 4-1, 3-2, 3-1 and 3-1 on their previous long journeys.

The Warriors probably could survive in the playoff race if they split the four games. That would put them in a position of having to finish strong, but the potential for that is good with the Kings, Clippers and SuperSonics among their last five opponents, as well as an Oakland visit by the Nuggets.

Here are two other trends the Warriors would love to see continue on the four-game trip:

They haven't lost consecutive games since Jan. 2-4.

And they haven't lost consecutive road games since Stephen Jackson returned from his season-opening, seven-game suspension.

WARRIORS 114, MAVERICKS 104: Down 12-0 to open the game and by 13 a few minutes later, the Warriors had the Mavericks right when they wanted them Sunday night.

For the 17th time this season, the Warriors rallied from a double-digit deficit to win, catching the visitors by halftime and then holding off a late surge to record the critical win.

The victory allowed the Warriors to catch the Mavericks and Nuggets in the Western Conference playoff race. They're now in a three-way tie for the No. 7 spot with just nine games to go.

The Warriors trail both rivals in the season series, so they'd not make the playoffs if they began today. Fortunately for Golden State, they don't.

Neither season series is complete. Golden State can gain a 2-2 split with each club by winning Wednesday at Dallas and at home against the Nuggets on April 10.

Monta Ellis, who'd been held to 12 and 13 points in earlier losses the Mavericks, fueled Sunday's win with 30 points.