Warriors at Suns
A pair of Pacific Division teams will dive right into their rivalry Wednesday as the Golden State Warriors and host Phoenix Suns square off in their 2012-13 season opener. Neither team qualified for the playoffs during the abbreviated 2011-12 campaign as Phoenix posted a .500 record while Golden State finished 20 games under. Both clubs also finished on a sour note, with the Suns losing their final three contests and finishing three games behind Utah for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and the Warriors dropping nine of their last 10 games.
Golden State won six of its eight preseason games, including its finale against Phoenix on Oct. 23. The Suns went 4-3, ending their preseason with a victory over Denver. The Warriors took two of three meetings with the Suns last campaign, marking the first time they captured the season series since going 3-2 in 1994-95. A two-point triumph on Feb. 22 ended Golden State's 12-game losing streak at Phoenix.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (Golden State), Fox Sports Arizona (Phoenix)
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (2011-12: 23-43): Head coach Mark Jackson was impressed with his team's performance in the preseason and hopes it carries over to the regular campaign. "We have to feel real good about what we were able to accomplish," he said. "Now the challenge is, everyone starts back at zero." Klay Thompson, who is expected to be the team's starter at shooting guard this season, had his third-year option exercised and will be with the club through 2013-14. The 22-year-old averaged 12.5 points and 24-plus minutes while playing in all 66 games as a rookie last season. Guard Stephen Curry, who missed 40 games with injuries to his right ankle last season, tweaked the surgically repaired ankle during a preseason game but claims he'll be ready for the season opener. It's not known when center Andrew Bogut, who's out with an ankle injury, will be cleared to play.
ABOUT THE SUNS (2011-12: 33-33): Phoenix is sporting a roster with nine new members, but shooting guard Jared Dudley believes the team did a good job coming together during the preseason. "We've picked up the offense better than expected," said Dudley, one of the few returning members. "Whenever you have nine new guys doing a whole new offense, it's tough. You see our growth every game, too." Among the club's newcomers is forward Michael Beasley, who was drafted second overall in 2008 by Miami. Beasley, who spent the last two seasons with Minnesota, has averaged 15.1 points in 279 career games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Phoenix picked up the 2013-14 option on F Markieff Morris, who averaged 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds as a rookie last season.
2. Beasley averaged 12.7 points and 3.6 rebounds during the preseason.
3. Thompson earned first-team All-Rookie honors in 2011-12.