Warriors at Kings
The Golden State Warriors made themselves into a legitimate contender with their recent success on a long road trip. After a one-game stop at home, the Warriors will be looking to continue their traveling success when they visit the struggling Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. Golden State went 6-1 on an Eastern Conference swing and knocked off New Orleans in its return home on Tuesday. The Kings will be trying to avoid a sixth straight setback.
Sacramento looked like it was putting things together with a three-game winning streak earlier in the month, but the recent slide has offered very few silver linings. The Kings have been outscored by an average of 16.4 points while allowing 110.6 on the defensive end. The Warriors have the kind of offense that can take advantage of Sacramento’s weaknesses, though they shot just 39.7 percent in a 94-92 loss in their first trip to Sleep Train Arena on Nov. 5.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Arena (Golden State), CSN California (Sacramento)
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (17-8): Stephen Curry went 3-for-15 from the floor while David Lee managed just six rebounds in the meeting last month. Since then, Lee has become a much bigger force on the glass while Curry has steadily raised his shooting percentage. Lee recorded at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in each of the seven games on the road trip before coming up just short with 26 points and nine boards in Tuesday’s 103-96 triumph. Golden State continues to thrive late in games with Jarrett Jack running the point and Curry playing the wing along with Klay Thompson. Jack and Curry combined to score 10 of the Warriors' final 11 points after New Orleans had tied it up late on Tuesday. Carl Landry and Draymond Green come off the bench to line up in the frontcourt along with Lee, giving Golden State three players capable of creating in the post.
ABOUT THE KINGS (7-17): DeMarcus Cousins was the star of the Nov. 6 meeting, collecting 23 points and 15 rebounds while helping to hold down Lee. Cousins was the key to the three-game surge earlier this month as well, recording a double-double in all three of those contests. He has been less effective during the losing streak, managing only one double-double and missing one game due to a suspension. The mercurial forward was held to nine points on 1-of-10 shooting in a 101-90 loss at Phoenix on Monday. The highlight of Monday’s defeat came from second-year guard Jimmer Fredette, who broke out for a career-high 22 points. Fredette has gotten inconsistent playing time but has gone for double figures in two straight.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Fredette could see steady minutes at least until Tyreke Evans (left knee) is ready to return full time. Evans has missed six of the last 10 games.
2. Three of the last nine meetings have gone to overtime and four others have been decided by three points or less.
3. Warriors rookie C Festus Ezeli (bruised right knee) returned to the starting lineup on Tuesday after a one-game absence but played only 11 minutes.