Warriors at Pistons
Point guard Stephen Curry returns from an 11-game absence when the Golden State Warriors attempt to end their recent road woes with a game against the host Detroit Pistons on Saturday. Curry was sidelined with a strained left groin injury and he will look to help the Warriors halt a five-game road losing streak.
Golden State has badly missed Curry since he was hurt on Nov. 8 and coach Steve Kerr is eager to see the two-time MVP on the court. "Everything gets better," Kerr told reporters of having Curry back. "Food tastes better. Your guys' questions get better. Obviously we've been looking forward to getting him back, but again I'm proud of the way the guys have fought without him and hopefully Draymond (Green) won't be too far behind him and we'll have a better flow, better feel for who our team really is." Green (toe) will miss his eighth straight contest on Saturday as the Warriors try to tame a hot Detroit squad that posted a 107-88 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday for its fourth straight win and eighth in the past 10 games. "It is an opportunity. It's not going to make or break our year," Pistons coach Dwane Casey told reporters in his postgame press conference of facing the Warriors. "It is an opportunity to compete against one of the best teams in our league and I don't have any doubt that our guys will come compete and play hard."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (Golden State), FS Detroit
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (15-8): Star forward Kevin Durant is on an incredible roll in which he has topped 40 points in three straight games and is averaging 48 points during the stretch. Durant had 51 points and 11 rebounds in Thursday's 131-128 overtime loss to the Toronto Raptors, marking the second time in his career he has had at least 50 points and 10 rebounds in a contest. "My only focus is being the best version of me that I can each possession on both ends," Durant told reporters of his strong stretch. "Once you just focus on that, you get lost in the game. Makes or misses or turnovers or mistakes really don't matter. Just move onto the next play. Try not to have a lot of mistakes, but if you do have one, just move on."
ABOUT THE PISTONS (12-7): Guard Reggie Jackson was solid against the Bulls with 20 points and he knocked down a career-high six 3-pointers in eight attempts. "Reggie was special. His play was unselfish," Detroit point guard Ish Smith told reporters afterward. "If they brought the double (team), he kicked it out. Reggie was on automatic. He got us off to a good start and we just played off that." Jackson has scored 20 or more points in three of the past four games and is averaging 20.5 points during the stretch.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Warriors have won 12 of the past 14 meetings.
2. Detroit C Andre Drummond had 19 points and 20 rebounds against the Bulls and he has seven outings of 20 or more rebounds this season.
3. Golden State F Jonas Jerebko - formerly of Detroit - scored a season-best 20 points against Toronto.