LAST TIME OUT
Playing the first game of a two-game, two-night road trip, the Warriors wound up on the losing end of a 110-87 contest in Oklahoma City on Friday night. David Lee scored 23 points for the Warriors, but it was not enough as the Thunder used a big second quarter to take a lead they would never relinquish. Dorell Wright tallied his third double-double of the season, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds. FULL GAME RECAP
WARRIORS VS. GRIZZLIES
The Warriors will head into Saturday’s contest looking to avenge perhaps their toughest defeat of the season. On January 23, the Warriors led by as many as 23 points but wound up on the losing end of a 91-90 decision at Oracle Arena. The Warriors will need to do a better job protecting the ball, as they issued 24 turnovers in that contest. Memphis has been hot as of late, winning five of their last six games. Both teams will be playing on the back end of a back-to-back, so look for both team’s reserve unit to leave a mark on this contest.
IMPROVED PLAY FROM KLAY
Warriors rookie Klay Thompson has bounced back from a slow start to the season and now ranks fourth in the NBA, and first among rookies, in 3-point percentage (.469). Thompson has averaged 11.4 points in the last seven games, going 15-for-26 (.579) on 3-pointers during that stretch. MORE ON KLAY THOMPSON
PRODUCTION FROM THE 'DUB'STITUTES
One of the areas of most improvement on this year's Warriors team is the bench. Golden State reserves are averaging 32.3 points this season, an 8.1-point improvement from the 2010-11 campaign. Nate Robinson's 21-point night on Wednesday was the fourth effort of 20-or-more points by a Warriors reserve this season, one more than the team had all of last year.
Injuries:Warriors - Monta Ellis (hyperextended right knee) and Klay Thompson (right shin contusion are probable. Kwame Brown (torn pectoralis) is out. Grizzlies - Darrell Arthur (torn right Achilles), Zach Randolph (torn right MCL) and Josh Selby (D-League) are out. Sam Young (right ankle sprain) is day-to-day.