(Sports Network) - The Golden State Warriors will take a three-game winning
streak into Saturday night's contest when they host the Phoenix Suns at Oracle
Arena.
The Warriors won the last two of a four-game road trip, then came back with a
100-97 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at home on Thursday night.
Andrew Bogut, who returned on Monday after a long stint sidelined with a foot
injury, blocked a Brandan Wright attempt late in the game, then Jarrett Jack,
who started in place of Steph Curry for the second straight game, iced the
victory with two free throws.
"We will get better, but that is a game we lose last year," acknowledged
Warriors coach Mark Jackson. "We made the plays we had to make. We got stops.
Obviously we have to close out games much better, but defensively we made the
plays."
Klay Thompson was high scorer in the game with 27 points on 11-for-18
shooting. David Lee was sensational with 15 points, 20 rebounds and nine
assists for his NBA-leading 30th double-double.
Jack, Harrison Barnes and Carl Landry also scored in double digits.
The Warriors embark on a four-game road trip after Saturday's game.
The Suns begin a four-game sojourn of their own starting Saturday and didn't
leave home on a positive note. They fell for the third time this season to the
Dallas Mavericks, 109-99, on Friday.
Phoenix took a one-point lead into the final frame, but lost the fourth
quarter, 35-24. The Mavs shot 50-percent from the field in the fourth and 67
percent from long range.
"We gave up way too many points and we definitely should have locked down a
little bit better on defense," said guard Shannon Brown.
Brown was the Suns' leading scorer with 20 off the bench. Goran Dragic had a
great all-around game with 19 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Luis
Scola, Marcin Gortat and Jared Dudley also scored in double figures.
The Suns will also visit the Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets and
Oklahoma City Thunder on this trip. Phoenix has the fewest road wins in the
Western Conference with four.
The Suns are now 3-3 under interim head coach Lindsey Hunter and Friday's loss
to the Mavericks was their first home loss under Hunter. He's staying patient
as his Suns are playing much better than they did under Alvin Gentry.
"When you are trying to change the culture, when you are trying to change
status quo, it is tough," said Hunter. "A lot of our guys have never been
through that. It is not a quick, overnight change and we realize that."
The Warriors defeated the Suns, 87-85, in the season's only prior matchup on
Oct. 31 in Phoenix. The Warriors have won three in a row, but the Suns won 11
of the previous 12 before Golden State's winning streak.
The Sports Network