
SAN FRANCISCO –- The Phoenix Suns not only beat the Warriors earlier this season at Chase Center but also knocked Stephen Curry out of action for at least three months.
So, when the Warriors take the court Friday night at Chase, they’ll have a score to settle and a winning streak to protect.
Pregame coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 6:30, with tipoff scheduled for 7:40.
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After leading the NBA in road games through the first eight weeks, the Warriors (8-24) returned home last week having lost five in a row. They’ve since won three consecutive games, posting their first win streak of the season.
The Suns, after a solid start under first-year coach Monty Williams, come to town lugging a seven-game losing streak, the league’s longest. Their last two road losses, to the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder, were by a combined 39 points.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Suns
F - Kelly Oubre Jr.
F - Dario Saric
C - Aron Baynes
G -Devin Booker
G - Ricky Rubio
Golden State Warriors
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Warriors
F – Alec Burks
F - Draymond Green
C - Willie Cauley-Stein
G - Damion Lee
G - D’Angelo Russell
INJURY REPORT
Suns: F Kelly Oubre Jr. (R groin soreness) is listed as probable. C Deandre Ayton (R ankle sprain) is listed as out.
Warriors: G Stephen Curry (L hand fracture), C/F Kevon Looney (L abdominal soreness), F Eric Paschall (R hip contusion) and G Klay Thompson (R ACL rehab) are listed as out.
[RELATED: Why magical playoff run would hurt not help Warriors]
ROTATION OUTLOOK
Suns: Key players off the bench have been veteran PF Frank Kaminsky (11.4 ppg, 23.1 mpg), rookie SF Cam Johnson (9.2 ppg, 21.0 ppg) and second-year SF Mikal Bridges (6.8 ppg, 21.7 mpg) ... Booker is making a bid to enter the 50-40-90 club. He’s shooting 49.7 pct. overall, 38.2 pct. from deep and 90.8 pct at the line ... Despite the losing streak, the Suns continue to lead the league in assists, averaging 28.4 per game. They also lead in assist-to-turnover ratio, at 1.98 ... Rubio has recorded at least eight assists in 12 consecutive games, the longest streak of his career and the longest in the league this season ... Former Warriors assistant coach Willie Green is now the top assistant under Williams ... Phoenix has the youngest roster in the NBA, averaging 24.49 years on opening night ... With their 127-118 win Oct. 30, the Suns have won the last two games in the series. It’s their first consecutive wins over the Warriors since winning seven in a row between 2010 and 2012 ... They are 0-7 on the road when trailing after three quarters and unbeaten (5-0) when leading after three.
Warriors: Several factors are behind the Warriors' three-game win streak, but improved defense tops the list. Their 98.7 rating during this span is No. 2 in the league (Boston 97.6). Close behind is rebounding. They averaged 52.0 rpg and outrebounded opponents in three consecutive games for the first time this season. They are 1-17 when getting outrebounded ... Lee is averaging 18.7 ppg and 9.7 rpg over the last three games. He’s also shooting 57.1 pct from deep ... Cauley-Stein is averaging 3.3 bpg over the last three games and a career-high 1.48 this season ... It’s imperative the Warriors take care of the ball, as the Suns are No. 2 in forcing turnovers (16.9 pg) and No. 3 in points off turnovers (19.5 pg) ... If they learned anything from the previous meeting, the Warriors realize the importance of a strong start. They allowed a 21-0 run in the first quarter Oct. 30 and entered the second quarter trailing, 43-14 ... The Warriors are 1-4 in the first game of back-to-back sets. They play the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.
Officials: Pat Fraher (crew chief), James Williams, Phenizee Ransom.