PREVIEW: Warriors (49-12) Visit Struggling But High-Scoring Phoenix Suns (33-31)

Golden State Warriors (49-12) at Phoenix Suns (33-31)

Tip-off: Wednesday, March 4th, 2015 – 7:30PM PDT

Location: US Airways Center (aka Talking Stick Resort Arena), Phoenix, AZ

TV: CSN Bay Area | Radio: KNBR 680 AM

Livetweet: @LetsGoWarriors #LetsGoWarriorsLive

Projected Starting Lineups:

Warriors

PG: Stephen Curry (23.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 7.8 APG)

SG: Klay Thompson (21.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.0 APG)

SF: Harrison Barnes (10.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.4 APG)

PF: Draymond Green (11.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.7 APG)

C: Andrew Bogut (6.3 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.6 APG)

Head Coach: Steve Kerr (49-12, .803)

Suns

PG: Eric Bledsoe (17.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.0 APG)

SG: Brandon Knight (14.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 5.0 APG)

SF: PJ Tucker (8.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.5 APG)

PF: Markieff Morris (15.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.2 APG)

C: Earl Barron (1.5 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.2 APG)

Head Coach: Jeff Hornacek (81-65, .555)

Last Times Out

LAST WARRIORS GAME: On 3/9/2015, Golden State defeated the Los Angeles Clippers, 106-98. Green led the Warriors with 23 points for the second time in three games.

LAST SUNS GAME: On 3/7/2015, the Cavaliers defeated the Suns, 89-79, in Cleveland.

LAST WARRIORS-SUNS MATCHUP: On 1/31/2015, the Warriors defeated the Suns, 106-87, as Curry led all scorers with 25 points.

LAST WARRIORS-SUNS MATCHUP IN PHOENIX: On 11/9/2014, the Suns defeated the Warriors, 107-95. Golden State committed 26 turnovers and as Thompson sat out with a strained right hand.

Game Notes

• “Dating to a 106-87 loss in Golden State on Jan. 31, the Suns are 5-11 as they endure the growing pains of a roster shakeup.
  Saturday’s 89-79 loss in Cleveland featured their second worst offensive performance during that time, shooting just 35.7 percent.
  .
  The typically high-scoring Suns, who rank third in the league at 105.3 points per game, have averaged 92.8 in five games.
  Phoenix’s 3-point shooting has been as poor as Golden State’s has been good, failing to make 10 in eight straight games while shooting 28.9 percent.
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  Brandon Knight’s been part of that problem with an overall shooting mark of 31.2 percent in six games.
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  Alex Len was out after twisting his right ankle Friday at Brooklyn, an injury that first occurred before the All-Star break, but coach Jeff Hornacek said the center plans on facing Golden State.
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  “I don’t think he ever fully recovered from it, so it’s a little sore,” Hornacek said.
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  The loss concluded a 2-2 road trip, and the Suns now open a five-game homestand that’s part of nine home dates in their next 10. After winning seven straight at home, they’ve dropped six of 10.” — Kevin Chroust, AP/STATS

• “Jeff Hornacek: ‘Against … GSW, you can’t have lapses. If you have a 3-min stretch where you fall asleep, Curry and Klay make 3-4 threes.'” — Rusty Simmons, San Francisco Chronicle

• “Phoenix plays the highest scoring games as combined with their opponents is at 210.1 points per game. The Dubs are 2nd at 209.5.” — Tim Roye, Warriors radio broadcaster

• “The Suns have beaten the Warriors the last 3 times in Phoenix and outscored them at the free throw line 25-20.” — Roye

• “The Suns forced Golden State into 27 turnovers in their win on Nov. 9, the most turnovers by a Suns opponent since Seattle had 27 on Dec. 16, 2003.” — Suns PR

• “The Suns are 3rd in the NBA with 18 games shooting over 50 percent from the field for the season, trailing only Golden State and Atlanta.” — Suns PR