With Durant out vs Kings, a 30-point game for Nick Young not out of the question

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OAKLAND -- Though Draymond Green and David West will return to the lineup, Kevin Durant won’t be available Friday night when the Warriors face the Sacramento Kings at Oracle Arena.

Durant took a blow to the ribs two nights ago against the Lakers and was declared out after shootaround Friday morning. The additions of Green, who missed one game, and West, who missed six, are enough to position the Warriors (52-16) to make amends for a 110-106 home loss to lowly Sacramento in November.

The Kings (22-47), in the midst of youth movement, are 4-4 in March, their best eight-game start of any month since going 5-3 in February 2017.

BETTING LINE

Warriors by 9

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Quinn Cook vs. De’Aaron Fox: While Cook is keeping the PG seat warm until Stephen Curry returns, Fox is quickly becoming a foundational player for the Kings. The rookie’s late-game exploits are particularly impressive; he’s 3-of-3 on game-tying or go-ahead shots in the last five seconds of games. Cook won’t be intimidated, but this is his fourth consecutive start so it’s time he plays as if he belongs.

INJURY REPORT

C/F David West (R arm cyst) is available. C/F Jordan Bell (R ankle tweak) and G Quinn Cook (R hand contusion) are listed as probable. G Stephen Curry (R ankle tweak), F Kevin Durant (R rib soreness), G Pat McCaw (L wrist fracture) and G Klay Thompson (R thumb fracture) are listed as out.

Kings: F Harry Giles (Bi-lateral knee rehabilitation) and G Iman Shumpert (L knee rehabilitation and L plantar fasciitis) are listed as out.

LAST 10

Warriors: 8-2. Kings: 4-6.

GAME OFFICIALS

Scott Foster (crew chief), Marat Kogut, Dedric Taylor

SERIES HISTORY

The teams split the first two of four games this season, the Kings with a 110-106 win on Nov. 27 in Oakland and the Warriors taking a 119-104 victory on Feb. 2 in Sacramento. The Warriors won three of four last season and are 12-2 against the Kings in the Steve Kerr era.

THREE THINGS TO WATCH

THE SECOND UNIT: Though the starting lineup is pure makeshift, West’s return puts the second unit in position to do damage. He’s having a terrific season and he’ll be reunited with fellow vets Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston. This group should be able to create separation against the Sacramento reserves.

THE TURNOVER TOTAL: The Warriors committed 40 turnovers in the first two games against Sacramento, giving the Kings 44 points. They committed 22 giveaways Wednesday against the Lakers, giving them 29 point. The Warriors already know if they open the upset door, the Kings are capable of walking through.

SWAGGY 3 TIME: The Kings rank dead last at defending the 3-point line. Rookie SG Bogdan Bogdanovic can shoot from deep but is lost on D. If ever there were a game to invite the best of Nick Young, this is it. A 30-point night is not out of the question.

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