Golden State Warriors Look to Sweep NorCal Rival Kings: Game Preview
The Warriors will look to sweep the Kings for the first time since the 1991-92 season but will not be easy since Sacramento always gives Golden State its best games. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
After a Texas two step in Dallas and San Antonio, the Golden State Warriors return home to Oracle Arena for a three-game homestand, starting with their rivals from the North, the Sacramento Kings.
The Kings are having a disappointing season under their new head coach and former Warriors assistant Michael Malone. Sacramento is 13th in the Western Conference and is led by its stars DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay. The Kings are coming off a big victory on Wednesday against the Lakers, 107-102. Sacramento was led by its rookie point guard, Ray McCallum, who scored a season-high 27 points in the victory, playing in place of the injured Isaiah Thomas.
The Warriors are returning from a recent road trip where they split in Dallas and San Antonio. In Dallas, Stephen Curry’s wing jumper with 0.1 seconds left gave Golden State a 122-120 overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks in a must-win game. In San Antonio, Golden State was blown out by 21, 111-90, resting several key players including Andre Iguodala and Jermaine O’Neal.
The Warriors remain in the sixth spot in the Western Conference, 1.5 games ahead of Dallas for seventh and two games ahead of Memphis and Phoenix for eighth.
Look for the “Splash Brothers” to be instrumental in the Warriors-Kings clash on Friday night. The two have combined to score 48 points and shoot over 50 percent from the field in the prior three meetings against the Kings. Curry is also averaging ten assists per game against their Norcal rival.
More is expected on Friday night of Thompson and Curry because the Warriors are likely to once again be without their starting frontcourt, David Lee and Andrew Bogut, which will give them more opportunity to fire from long-range. The Warriors will look to sweep the Kings for the first time since the 1991-92 season but will not be easy since Sacramento always gives Golden State its best games.
Tale of the Tape
Warriors
Points per game: 103.2 (10th)
Field-goal percentage: 45.9% (10th)
Three-point percentage: 37.6% (5th)
Defensive field-goal percentage: 43.7% (4th)
Rebounds per game: 45.1 (3rd)
Turnovers: 15.0 (26th)
Kings:
Points per game: 101.1 (13th)
Field-goal percentage: 44.9% (16th)
Three-point percentage: 33.6% (27th)
Defensive field-goal percentage: 46.1% (21st)
Rebounds per game: 44.5 (9th)
Turnovers: 14.8 (23rd)
Injury Report
GSW: David Lee (strained right hamstring) is questionable. Andrew Bogut (pelvic contusion) and Festus Ezeli (recovery from right knee surgery) is out. Nemanja Nedovic and Ogjnen Kuzmic are on assignment with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the D-League.
SAC: Isaiah Thomas (right quad contusion) and Aaron Gray (stomach illness) are questionable. Carl Landry (right knee surgery), Jason Terry (left knee rehabilitation) and Wallie Reed (d-league assignment) are out.
Probable Starters
GOLDEN STATE (46-29)
F Andre Iguodala (9.4 PPG)
F Draymond Green (6.0 PPG)
C Jermaine O’Neal (7.7 PPG)
G Klay Thompson (18.2 PPG)
G Stephen Curry (23.6 PPG)
SACRAMENTO (27-48)
F Rudy Gay (20.5 PPG)
F Reggie Evans (5.4 PPG)
C DeMarcus Cousins (22.2 PPG)
G Ben McLemore (8.3 PPG)
G Ray McCallum (5.4 PPG)
Game Info
Tip-off: 7:30 PM PST
Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
TV: LOCAL