With Curry out and Thompson and Green struggling, the Warriors were led by a rather unexpected source of points - journeyman guard Ian Clark, who had a career-best 21 points off the bench.
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 31: Dwight Howard #12 of the Houston Rockets steals the ball from Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors at Toyota Center on December 31, 2015 in Houston, Texas.
The lowly Philadelphia 76ers nabbed their third win of the season, never trailing in the second half en route to a 110-105 victory over the Kings in Sacramento.
Having suffered only their second defeat of the season on Wednesday when Curry missed his first game due to a lower leg injury, the Warriors found just enough to compensate for the loss of the reigning league MVP and edged the Rockets.
Draymond Green was not among the top point scorers in the game, but he did achieve a rare and valuable feat. "We had great looks". "I told them I'm exhausted of the 'Hey I'm proud of you guys, you played hard we competed but we came up short.' That gets old after a while. Might have made a little difference", Dallas guard Devin Harris said.
Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki had 18 points and eight rebounds and center ZaZa Pachulia posted his 17th double-double of the season with 14 points and 15 rebounds.
The Suns had six players score in double figures.
There was more good news for the Warriors. Milwaukee shot 59 percent in the first half and led by as many as 13 points on its way to a 59-52 lead at the break. The Warriors shot 66.7 percent in the first quarter, and Thompson highlighted the pinpoint accuracy by making seven straight shots, including a trio of 3-pointers, for 17 points.
Asked to name the best player at each position in the NBA, Klay Thompson picked Warriors teammate Stephen Curry as the point guard and then paused.
Meanwhile, Golden State finished out a stellar calendar year that saw the team go 72-12 in the regular season, the second-highest mark of all-time.
"We've got every reason to just come out and throw the towel in, but we came out and really stepped up, and that's huge, and it shows", Green said.
Barea, who has been starting while Williams sits with a left hamstring strain, had at least 23 points for the third time in four games. He had a war of words with Harden prior to this game because Thompson called himself the best shooting guard in the National Basketball Association, so this win had to feel good for him.
Walton said Curry didn't have too much trouble accepting the medical decision.
Again the Rockets are playing at the level of their opponents. It was nearly 15.
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".
Blake Griffin's continued absence does not appear to be hampering the Los Angeles Clippers, who made it four wins in a row with a 122-117 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.
Kangaroo Dog with No Front Legs Becomes Worldwide Celebrity
They said they found Estrella when she was 6 months old and watched her develop new walking skills much like a human baby. A year after she was taken into an animal shelter, the loveable pooch has become well-known in Tingo Maria, Peru.
Curry likely to return to action Friday against Trail Blazers
