(Sports Network) - The Golden State Warriors are just a game out of first
place in the Pacific Division. An extended run of games against the Eastern
Conference could help them vault into first place.
The Warriors resume a season-long seven-game road trip on Friday night as they
visit the Brooklyn Nets.
Each game of Golden State's swing is against the East and the club is 5-1
versus the conference this season. The Warriors improved on that Wednesday,
notching a 104-97 win over the Detroit Pistons.
Klay Thompson had a season-high 27 points, including 19 during a 39-point
third quarter, and Stephen Curry had 22 points and 10 assists.
Curry has tallied at least 20 points and 10 assists in a career-high four
straight games, the first Warrior to do so since Tim Hardaway's four-game run
from Dec. 8-15, 1992.
"I'm sure he had some great performances but what I love right now is he is in
total control out there on the floor," Warriors coach Mark Jackson said of
Curry. "When things get crazy there is no need for me to call a timeout
because I feel comfortable with his ability to run this basketball team."
David Lee had 20 points and 11 rebounds for Golden State, which has won six of
eight.
Golden State is set to make its debut in Brooklyn and hopes the change in
venue will alter its luck in this series on the road. The Warriors lost 12 of
their final 14 trips to New Jersey.
The Warriors did snap a three-game slide versus the Nets with a 102-93 home
win on Nov. 21, with Curry having 25 points and Thompson notching 23.
Brook Lopez paced the Nets with 22 points, but will miss his fourth straight
game due to a foot injury.
Brooklyn ended November with five straight wins, but has dropped its first two
this month. That includes a 117-111 setback to the visiting Oklahoma City
Thunder on Tuesday.
The Nets made a run with a 38-point third quarter and pulled within two with
4:12 to play, but couldn't close the gap.
"I give our guys credit because I challenged them at halftime and they came
out with a little bit more energy and focus," Nets coach Avery Johnson said.
"They battled on the defensive end and sometimes Oklahoma still made some
shots, but we battled."
Deron Williams dropped in a season-high 33 points with seven assists as the
Nets had a six-game home winning streak snapped. Brooklyn is 7-2 at home and a
victory tonight would give the club its best start at home since going 9-1 in
2002-03.
Andray Blatche had 19 points in 11 rebounds and is averaging 17.7 points and
9.3 rebounds in three starts in place of Lopez.
Reggie Evans also missed Tuesday's loss due to the flu, but could return
Friday night.
The Sports Network