That turned out to be the pilot episode in a mini-series of Warriors' near misses. The only question is whether to call the show "Growing Pains" or "Damages." Are all the close losses encouraging, since it means they are in games and the young players are getting valuable experience? Or are they extracting chunks out of team morale, wearing down the hope of the league's youngest team?

"They haven't (affected morale) yet," Warriors coach Don Nelson said Tuesday. "You never know. We've done a good job dealing with them."

The Warriors, after Monday's overtime loss to visiting San Antonio, are 1-4 in overtime and 5-11 in games decided by five points or less. In 10 of their 34 losses, the Warriors have been ahead or tied with four minutes left.

What's more, four times this season they've needed a stop or a made basket on the final possession to win. But guard Jamal Crawford's runner bounced off the rim against visiting Miami on Dec. 1. Swingman Kelenna Azubuike's 3-point heave rimmed out in a triple-overtime loss Jan. 14 to visiting Sacramento. In back-to-back games Jan. 21 and 23, Oklahoma City forward Jeff Green and Cleveland forward LeBron James hit game-winners at Oracle Arena.

What if the Warriors were, instead, 11-5 in their closest games? Where would they be? Six-and-one-half games behind tonight's visiting opponent, the Phoenix Suns, current owners of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Instead, they trail Phoenix by 12 1/2 games.

But as Jackson often says, "If it was a fifth, we'd all be drunk." So, despite the monotony of this recurring plot, the Warriors are forced to put a positive spin on demoralizing defeats.

"It's encouraging," Crawford said. "That's all it can be because we can't change the past. I honestly think we're OK. We're taking the positives of each win and loss and, truthfully, we're not that far away."

Monday's loss to the Spurs could go a long way toward helping the Warriors figure out where to go for offense down the stretch. They blew a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter, going almost six minutes without scoring.

The loss to the Kings should've been a firsthand lesson of the importance of hustle plays, as Sacramento swingman John Salmons came up with a loose ball among two Warriors before hitting a game winner.

All of the close losses could develop in the Warriors the intangible ability to focus game by game.

"You just put them behind you, just like you would if we would've won them," Nelson said. "Put 'em behind you and move on to the next game."

The alternative would be to fall apart, to let the season spiral into an embarrassment. Perhaps the title of that comedy would be "Scrubs."

Notes: Forward Corey Maggette missed practice to visit his physical therapist in Los Angeles about his back. He fell on his back during last week's road trip and was feeling some discomfort. He is expected to be back in time for today's shoot-around. ... Warriors guard Monta Ellis had no after-effects from his tweaked left ankle. No X-rays were taken, and he is expected to play tonight.

Contact Marcus Thompson II at mthomps2@bayareanewsgroup.com.8TODAY: vs. Suns, 7:30 p.m. TV: CSNBA.Radio: 680-AM