Warriors at Kings
THE STORY: Just four days after relying on their reserves in a 93-90 home victory over Sacramento, the Golden State Warriors visit Sacramento on Saturday night fresh off their best offensive game of the season. The Warriors thumped Utah 119-101 behind 33 points from Monta Ellis and 29 from Stephen Curry. The pair was almost non-existent late against Sacramento as the Warriors got 20 points from reserve Brandon Rush, 15 in the final quarter. “At their best, I’d put them up against anybody in the game,” Warriors coach Mark Jackson said of his starting backcourt. “We know what they’re capable of doing. The challenge to them is not to tease us.” Golden State is seeking its first three-game winning streak of the season. Sacramento snapped a five-game skid with a gritty 95-92 victory over Portland. The Kings have won four of their last six home games. They got a huge boost by the return of Marcus Thornton, who had missed five games with a bruised left thigh. Thornton scored a game-high 20.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, CS Bay Area (Warriors), CS California (Kings)
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (8-12): Ellis must have used his time of the bench Tuesday against Sacramento thinking about what he would do the next game because he scored 33 points on 13-of-21 shooting, and had 16 in the 40-point third quarter as the Warriors opened an 11-point lead. “It was a great feeling,” Ellis said. “We were having fun, making plays for each other and helping each other out on the defensive end.” Golden State won’t see the Eastern Conference for a while as its next 10 games are against Western teams.
ABOUT THE KINGS (7-15): While Thornton was impressive in his return to the lineup, DeMarcus Cousins had an off night and finished with just eight points. He had 21 points and 15 rebounds against the Warriors on Tuesday. Cousins hopes he and Tyreke Evans can play show consistent play. “When your two best players are playing well, everyone else has to follow,” he said. “When they're working the hardest, everybody has to follow.” Rookie Jimmer Fredette sat out for the time in 22 games this season.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Warriors scored 71 points in the second half, tied for the most in a half by any team this season.
2. Golden State is 0-6 when it fails to reach 20 assists.
3. Sacramento has a 4-1 record when leading after three quarters and is 3-0 at home.