Game Preview: Kings At Warriors
Already one of the most prolific offensive clubs with the NBA's best record, it almost isn't fair that the Golden State Warriors are welcoming another All-Star to the rotation.
The Warriors look to extend their longest home winning streak in over 20 years Monday night when David Lee is expected to make his long-awaited return against the Sacramento Kings.
Even though Lee has played only seven minutes, the Warriors rank among the league leaders in scoring average (107.5), field-goal percentage (48.0) and points in the paint per game (45.9) during the best start in team history.
After their team-record 16-game winning streak ended Tuesday in Memphis, they bounced back Thursday by shooting 51.1 percent and outscoring Oklahoma City 52-36 in the paint to rally from a 17-point deficit in a 114-109 home win.
Now Golden State (22-3) is trying to make it eight in a row in Oakland for the first time since a 10-game run late in the 1993-94 season with Lee probable to play against the Northern California rival Kings.
The two-time All-Star power forward averaged 18.2 points and 9.3 rebounds while shooting 52.3 percent from the field in 2013-14, but he's been limited to one game this season due to a strained left hamstring.
According to reports, coach Steve Kerr plans to bring Lee off the bench and limit him to around 12-15 minutes initially. He's recorded four straight double-doubles at home versus Sacramento.
Stephen Curry finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds and six steals in a season-opening 95-77 road win over Sacramento for their fifth in a row in the series. Curry is also averaging 29.0 points in his last four overall after scoring 34 on Thursday.
"Obviously without (Andrew) Bogut in there the past couple games, it's been a little different with swinging the ball from side to side through our (big men)," Curry said. "But it really wasn't stagnant at all (against the Thunder)."
The Warriors are trying to stay strong defensively without Bogut, who has missed the last five games and is out until at least January because of a right knee injury. They're allowing a league-low 41.6 field-goal percentage, but gave up their highest mark (47.7) in the past 18 games Thursday.
The Kings (12-15) certainly know what it's like to lose a key frontcourt player. They snapped a season-high five-game losing streak Sunday in DeMarcus Cousins' second start since returning from a serious illness.
Cousins led the way with 29 points and 14 rebounds, while Rudy Gay scored 24 and Ben McLemore had a season-high 23 in a 108-101 home win over the Los Angeles Lakers for their third win in 13 games.
"The guys are coming together," interim coach Tyrone Corbin said after his first win since Michael Malone's dismissal. "I can't say enough about how much I respect the effort after all we've been through."
Sacramento has gone 10-7 with Cousins in the lineup, though he's averaged just 11.5 points in his last four at Golden State. He finished with 20 points and 11 boards while missing 10 of 14 shots in the first meeting this season.
Cousins averages a career-high 12.5 rebounds for the Kings, who easily lead the NBA with a plus-7.1 rebounding margin. The Warriors hope Lee can help keep them from controlling the boards in the absence of Bogut and his team-best 9.3 rebounds per game.
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