SACRAMENTO -- Never in the California history of the Warriors and the Kings have the teams simultaneously been so good so deep into the season as they will be when they take the floor Friday night at Golden 1 Center.
Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 6 p.m. with Warriors Pregame Live, followed by tip-off at 7:05. Coverage for viewers in Sacramento begins at 6:30 p.m. on NBC Sports California with Kings Pregame Live.
With the Warriors at 19-10 and the Kings 15-12, it has spurred talk of a possible I-80 postseason matchup for the first time ever. History is against this, for not once in the 32 years since the Kings moved from Kansas City to Sacramento have both teams posted winning records, much less made the playoffs, in the same season.
Neither guard Stephen Curry nor forward Draymond Green was available in this season's first meeting between the teams, a 117-116 Warriors victory at Oracle Arena.
Since opening the season by winning 10 of their first 11 games, the Warriors have gone 9-9. They’ve dealt with injuries to Curry and Green, as well as the infamous squabble at Staples Center between Kevin Durant and Green.
They’re coming off a 113-93 blowout loss to the Toronto Raptors on Thursday at Oracle.
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The Kings have won five of the last six games, with all but one of the victories by double digits. Sacramento is coming off a 141-130 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, during which they drained a franchise-record 19 3-pointers.
The two teams rank 1-2 (Kings first) in 3-point shooting percentage, so defending the arc will be crucial.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Warriors
PG Stephen Curry
SG Klay Thompson
SF Draymond Green
PF Kevin Durant
C Kevon Looney
Kings
PG De’Aaron Fox
SG Buddy Hield
SF Iman Shumpert
PF Nemanja Bjelica
C Willie Cauley-Stein
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: Forward Andre Igoudala (hip tightness) is listed as questionable. Center DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles tendon surgery rehab), center Damian Jones (pectoral surgery) and guard Shaun Livingston (pelvic contusion) are listed as out.
Kings: No injuries listed.
ROTATION OUTLOOK
Warriors: With Livingston out, Iguodala’s status is of immense significance. If he is cleared, the Warriors have another capable wing in an area in which they are thin. If he’s not, expect forward Alfonzo McKinnie and two-way guard/forward Damion Lee could get the bulk of the reserve minutes. ... Given Sacramento’s fast-paced style, the Warriors might be forced into greater reliance on center/forward Jordan Bell. He has been inconsistent -- he played 13 ineffective minutes on Nov. 24 -- but he’s easily the fastest of the team’s big men. ... Durant went for 44 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in the first meeting between the teams. Sacramento had no answer then and still does not have one. ... Limiting turnovers is imperative, as the Kings force an average of 17.1 per game, second in the NBA.
Kings: It’s near consensus now that second-year point guard Fox is going to be a star. He leads the team in assists (7.6 per game) and steals (1.48), and is second in scoring (17.9, 47.8 percent FG, 41.7 percent 3-pointers). He’ll be a handful for Curry. ... Rookie big man Marvin Bagley III isn’t starting, but he has been productive in meaningful minutes off the bench. ... Three players (Hield, Bjelica, Fox) are shooting better than 40 percent from deep, with Bjelica at a team-best 46.1. ... The Kings close well, having taken a lead into the fourth quarter 11 times and won all 11 games. ... They score roughly 19 percent (21.3) of their points off turnovers, ranking second in the league, while leading in fast-break points (21.9).
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