It's usually nice for a playoff contender to face a team out of contention in the final two months of the season. But that's not necessarily the case for the Warriors when it comes to seeing the Kings.
Sacramento would like nothing better than to knock off the club that resides 90 miles to the southwest, especially when the Warriors already have made a triumphant bus ride to and from the state capital this season, having beaten the Kings 103-96 on Nov. 28. All games are important at this late state of the season; Golden State walked off the court Saturday night clinging to just a two-game lead over Denver in the battle for the final playoff spot. But Tuesday's meeting -- as well as a quick trip to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Wednesday -- are especially big for the Warriors considering what comes up on the schedule immediately following the back-to-back.
The Warriors will face the Lakers and Mavericks twice each and the Rockets, Trail Blazers, Nuggets and Spurs once apiece in their next eight games, a stretch that no doubt will make or break them in the playoff race.
Having even more than their current two-game cushion heading into that stretch would be nice.
WARRIORS 110, GRIZZLIES 107: Nothing is coming easy for the Warriors these days, but as long as they get a win out of it, they can't complain.
Golden State was taken to the limit by the lowly Grizzlies on Saturday night, but Baron Davis rescued the playoff hopeful just in time, lifting the club to its eighth win in the last 10 games.
Davis scored all 19 of his points in the second half -- two on a jumper with 1:39 left that, if missed, would have given Memphis a chance to take the lead -- as the Warriors beat the Grizzlies for the sixth time in a row.
Memphis poured in 41 fourth-quarter points to give itself a chance, but it wasn't enough as the Warriors were able to hang on and assure themselves of a second consecutive winning season.
