Break up the Kings. Winners of four straight, Sacramento comes into Oracle Arena Wednesday night just a game and a half out of the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoff chase. They’ll face a Warriors team that is fresh off one of their worst performances in recent history and looking to get back in the win column.
DeMarcus Cousins put on a show in the Kings’ win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday evening. Sacramento’s star big posted 40 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists as the Kings narrowly escaped LA with victory.
The Warriors are fresh off a blowout loss. The Denver Nuggets pummeled the reigning Western Conference champs with a 132-110 showing that included 24 made 3-pointers.
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OPENING LINE
Warriors by 18
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Darren Collison vs. Stephen Curry -- Collison is running on fumes after playing the last three games without a backup. He’ll need to dig deep on both ends of the floor if the Kings have any chance of upsetting the Warriors for the second time this month. Curry is coming off one of his worst performances of the season in Denver where he shot just 1-of-11 from long range on his way to 11 points. It’s unlikely that the two-time reigning MVP will post another sub-par game when he faces the Kings on Wednesday night.
NBA
WHERE THEY STAND
Kings: 24-32 third place in Pacific
Warriors: 46-9, first place in Pacific
INJURY REPORT
Kings: PG Ty Lawson (strained adductor) out, G/F Garrett Temple (torn left hamstring) out until after All-Star break, F Omri Casspi (right calf strain) out, F Rudy Gay (torn left Achilles) out for season.
Warriors: SG Klay Thompson (sore arch) questionable, C Zaza Pachulia (rotator cuff) out, F David West (left thumb) out.
SERIES HISTORY
The Kings snapped a 13-game losing streak to the Warriors earlier in the month, tying the season series at 1-1 with a 109-106 overtime victory. Golden State holds a 198-186 lead over the Kings all-time and a 70-65 advantage in the Sacramento-era.
QUOTABLE
“I thought DeMarcus really delivered the mail, especially on the blocks. It was like running the football and we just gave them different looks.” -Dave Joerger on Cousins’ big performance against the Lakers