SAN ANTONIO - After quality wins over the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, the Warriors are armed with their first winning streak since before the All-Star break.
Now, on the first night of a strenuous back to back, the champs will look to keep their rhythm against the suddenly red-hot Spurs. Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 4 p.m. with Warriors Pregame Live, followed by tip-off at 5 p.m.
[RELATED: How to watch Warriors vs. Spurs online and on MyTeams app]
Entering Monday, the series is tied 1-1. The Warriors beat the Spurs 141-102 at Oracle Arena in the last matchup between these two teams on Feb. 6.
The Warriors will have some help Monday, as Kevin Durant will return to the lineup following a two-game absence recovering from a sprained ankle.
Here's everything you need to know about the matchup.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
News
Warriors
C Andrew Bogut
F Kevin Durant
F Draymond Green
G Klay Thompson
G Stephen Curry
Spurs
C LaMarcus Aldridge
C Jakob Poeltl
G Derrick White
G DeMar DeRozan
G Bryn Forbes
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: DeMarcus Cousins (ankle) is out, Damian Jones (left pectoral surgery) is out
Spurs: Dejounte Murray (torn right anterior cruciate ligament) is out.
[RELATED: Draymond talks KD's free agency, guarantees Warriors will win title]
ROTATION
Warriors: With Cousins out, Golden State's newest addition Andrew Bogut will start in the frontcourt. During Bogut's last tenure with the team, Golden State was routinely among the top defenses in the league.
Klay Thompson is in the midst of a great shooting stretch, having scored 20 or more points in eight straight games. He will have a chance to match his career high of nine such games Monday night.
Spurs: One of the hottest teams in the league, the Spurs enter Monday's matchup on an eight-game winning streak. DeRozan has had a fantastic season, averaging 21.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists and is on pace to become the first player in Spurs history to average 20 points, five assists and five rebounds. Aldridge, who played in his seventh All-Star game last month, is averaging 21.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. San Antonio has won 10 straight games at home.
Officials: Jason Phillips (#23), Tre Maddox (#73), Gediminas Petraitis (#50)
