The Bay Area's two NBA franchises will be duking it out not once but twice this week as the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings square off at Oracle Arena Tuesday night to prove who's the best in the Bay. Well, at least until Saturday when they play again in Sacramento.
Neither team have taken the league by storm this season as both the Kings (6-14) and Warriors (6-12) have had some growing pains with their new coaches. It also marks Sacramento head coach Keith Smart's first look at his previous team, where he was an assistant and head coach for eight seasons.
These two teams always play each other tough, splitting their four meetings last season with both Warriors victories eventually coming in overtime. This meeting should be no different with both teams hungry for victoires and Bay Area bragging rights. Much of the W's success will be contingent upon how Stephen Curry performs, and four games back after missing eight straight with his recurring ankle injury, he admits it still isn't quite right:
It doesn't respond well after games. It takes me a while to get back, get the soreness out of it. But during the games I don't think about it, it feels good.
Hopefully it wont act up. Along with Steph, look for a lot of David Lee tonight, who averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds against the Kings last season, and of course Monta Ellis, who comes in averaging 21.4 points and 7 assists this month.
On the Kings side, watch out for Tyreke Evans, who averaged 24.5 points, five assists and four rebounds in his last two games at Oracle, and big man DeMarcus Cousins, who comes in averaging 14.7 points and 10.9 rebounds. Hopefully he doesn't give Monta another concussion.
Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm PT with coverage on CSN Bay Area and KNBR 680 AM.
For more on the Warriors, head over to Golden State of Mind.