LAST TIME OUT
In a game that came down to the final possession, the Warriors wound up on the losing end of a 102-100 contest versus the visiting Nets. David Lee led the way with a game-high 27 points on 12-for-16 shooting, but it wasn’t enough as Golden State was outrebounded 44-32. Charles Jenkins got the starting assignment and scored 18 points and dishing out a career-high 12 dimes. All-in-all, five Warriors finished in double-figures and shot at 53 percent from the field as a team. FULL GAME RECAP
WARRIORS VS. LAKERS
The Warriors will take on the Lakers on Sunday for the third time this season and the second time in the last six days. Golden State has played its division rival close this season, but has yet to beat the perennial power. The Warriors nearly achieved that feat on Wednesday, coming back from a 16-point deficit before narrowly falling in a 104-101 contest at home. Golden State will have a huge size disadvantage on Sunday, and it goes without saying that the team will be challenged to contain Kobe Bryant. Only four and a half games separate the Lakers from their current position of third place in the Western Conference to being out of the playoff picture entirely, and the Warriors would like nothing more than to interrupt Lakers' progress toward the postseason.
JENKINS STEPPING UP
Charles Jenkins tallied his first career double-double on Friday, finishing with 18 points and a career-high 12 assists. Among rookies, only Ricky Rubio has had more assists in a game this season (14, done twice). Jenkins has played at a high level as of late, averaging 15.3 points and 5.5 assists.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
Three of the Warriors' last four games have been decided by three points or less, and all have resulted in Warriors losses. The team has now played in 17 games that have been within three points at the end of regulation, and they are just 5-12 in those games. There's no question that Golden State needs to improve its play in crunch time situations, and they could possibly get the chance as soon as Sunday.
A FAMILY AFFAIR
One player to keep an eye on in Sunday’s game is rookie guard Klay Thompson. In addition to being matched up with Kobe Bryant, Thompson will also be playing in front of his father, Mychal Thompson, who does the radio broadcasts for the Lakers. Thompson has averaged 17.0 points in two prior games against the Lakers, and the team will surely welcome another big game from the rookie on Sunday.
Injuries:Warriors - Andris Biedrins (strained right groin), Stephen Curry (mild sprain, right ankle) and Andrew Bogut (left ankle fracture) are out. Lakers - Jordan Hill (sprained MCL, right knee) is questionable.
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