Warriors at Kings
The Golden State Warriors could be counted on to win a big game against an elite opponent in the previous four seasons, but things seem to be changing in 2018-19. The Warriors will try to bounce back from another tough loss when they visit the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.
Golden State already lost a pair of games to the Toronto Raptors, was crushed 123-95 at home by the Oklahoma City Thunder, 134-111 by the Milwaukee Bucks at home and fell at San Antonio and Houston, but the most crushing loss might be a 135-134 overtime loss at home to the Rockets on Thursday in which the Warriors held a 20-point lead. "I do feel we did," shooting guard Klay Thompson told reporters when asked if Golden State gave the game away. "I don't think we played with that killer instinct in that second half. I think we relaxed being up." The Kings are in their own slump with losses in three straight and fell to .500 with a 117-113 setback at home against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. Sacramento shot 50 percent from the floor but was crushed 68-39 on the glass against the Nuggets.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (Bay Area), NBCS California (Sacramento)
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (25-14): Golden State's three-game home losing streak matches its longest in the Steve Kerr era, which spans four seasons in which the team advanced to the NBA Finals, but the players are confident they will find their form. "I'm not sure but we'll stay the course and get back to doing what we do," Thompson told reporters. "It's a different year than it has in the past. Although we are not blowing teams out, we are still 11 games above .500 with a chance to go on a run here before All-Star break. It's not the end of the world." The Warriors are still waiting for center DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) to make his season debut and were beaten up for 29 points and 21 rebounds by Rockets center Clint Capela on Thursday.
ABOUT THE KINGS (19-19): Sacramento's abrupt shift into a competitive team is being led by the backcourt duo of Buddy Hield and De'Aaron Fox, who combined for 45 points on 19-of-29 shooting in Thursday's setback. Hield, 26, scored a team-high 29 points and knocked down five 3-pointers in the second straight game on Thursday, giving him three straight 20-plus performances. Fox, 21, added eight assists in Thursday's setback and is averaging 18.1 points and 7.6 assists in his second season.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Thompson is 10-of-17 from 3-point range over the last three games.
2. Kings rookie PF Marvin Bagley III (knee) sat out the last 10 games and is not expected to play on Saturday.
3. Golden State took the first two meetings this season by a total of six points.