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Game Preview: Warriors vs. Kings - 3/24/17

The Warriors return home to host the visiting Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

Warriors vs. KingsFriday, March 247:30 p.m.Oracle Arena

WATCH: CSN Bay Area, NBA League Pass*
RADIO: 95.7 The Game, Warriors Radio Network

ON TO DALLAS
Riding a five-game winning streak, the Warriors return home to host the Sacramento Kings on Friday night. This will be the fourth and final matchup between the two teams this season, after Golden State prevailed in two of their first three encounters, including a 109-86 victory in Oakland back on February 15. The game falls on Authentic Fan Friday, and all fans in attendance will receive a Warriors Authentic Fan Friday Cheer Card, courtesy of CSN Bay Area. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Watch the action on CSN Bay Area and NBA League Pass*, or listen to the call on 95.7 The Game and the Warriors Radio Network.

*Only available outside of the Bay Area

LAST TIME OUT
The Warriors picked up their second win in as many nights, completing their two-day, two-game road trip with a 112-87 victory in Dallas on Tuesday night. Full Recap

MATCHUP AT A GLANCE

GSW
57-14
1st in West
116.1 PPG (1st)
44.6 RPG (6th)
30.3 APG (1st)

DAL
27-44
13th in West
102.9 PPG (23rd)
40.9 RPG (28th)
22.5 APG (14th)

PROJECTED STARTERS

GSW: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Patrick McCaw, Draymond Green and Zaza Pachulia

SAC: Darren Collison, Buddy Hield, Garrett Temple, Willie Cauley-Stein and Kosta Koufos

INJURY & ROSTER NOTES

GSW: Kevin Durant (left knee) is out. Damian Jones and Kevon Looney (D-League assignment) are not with team. Team Notes

SAC: Rudy Gay (torn left achilles) and Malachi Richardson (right hamstring partial tear) are out. Team Notes

DOMINANT DURANT-LESS DEFENSE
The Warriors have won five consecutive games by an average of 19.6 points per contest. The last four of those victories have all been won by 16 points or more, which has permitted Steve Kerr to sit Stephen Curry on the bench for the entire duration of the fourth quarter in every one of those situations. And while it may seem obvious to credit the offense with providing such large cushions, it’s actually the team defense that has proven to be the difference. During their current winning streak, Golden State is allowing only 92.5 points against per 100 possessions, which is easily the top mark in the league. In fact, ever since Kevin Durant went down with a knee injury on February 28th, the Warriors have posted the best defensive rating in the entire NBA. Now, no one is saying Golden State is better off defensively without Durant, as that is still factually untrue, but the Warriors ability to step it up on that end of the floor without one of their top individual defenders is an encouraging sign nonetheless. They’ve held all of their opponents during their current winning streak to 104 points or less, and if they’re able to continue that trend, the streak could be extended at least one more game.

TEAM LEADERS

GSW
PTS: Durant (25.3)
REB: Durant (8.2)
AST: Green (7.2)

SAC
PTS: Hield (14.2)
REB: Koufos (5.7)
AST: Lawson (4.7)

SACRAMENTO SCOUTING REPORT
The last time the Warriors faced the Kings, Sacramento looked a lot different. Back on February 15, Golden State defeated the Kings 109-86 at Oracle Arena, in what would turn out to be DeMarcus Cousins’ final game with the franchise. The Kings won their first game coming out of the All-Star Break, but have lost 11 of 13 since, and enter Friday’s matchup with the Warriors sitting at 27-44 on the season, the third-worst record in the Western Conference. They’ve handed the reins over to a youth movement that includes players like Buddy Hield, Skal Labissiere and Willie Cauley-Stein, but along with youth comes growing pains, particularly on the defensive end. Sacramento has posted the third-worst defensive rating in the league since the All-Star break, allowing an average of 110.5 points against per 100 possessions. The Kings have won only one game since the beginning of February when allowing their opponent to reach that mark, so if Golden State is able to get rolling offensively, it could be a long night for Sacramento.