|
 Now, the team hopes that a trade will help out guards Stephen
Curry and Klay Thompson even more.
Lee's 23 points included some big shots in the final quarter and
helped to lift the Warriors (32-22) over the Sacramento Kings 101-92
on Wednesday at Sleep Train Arena in the first game for each team
since the All-Star break. Lee's big effort helped offset a
less-than-stellar combo effort by guards Curry and Thompson, who
combined for 31 points, 12 fewer than they normally average.
"I was a bit more winded than normal, because we hadn't played in a
week," said Lee, who was playing only this third game since Feb. 8
because of shoulder and hip injuries, as well as the six-day layoff
for the All-Star break. "Fortunately, I was able to make some
shots."
Lee's shot from inside the key ended a stretch of nine straight
Warriors possessions without a basket bridging the third and fourth
quarters, and a layup two possessions later was followed by a
Thompson 3-pointer, as Golden State used a 13-4 run at the start of
the fourth period to pull ahead to stay.
Fatigue is a feeling not unfamiliar to Curry and Thompson. Curry was
tied for fourth in the NBA with an average of 37.7 minutes per game
before the all-Star break, and Thompson was seventh at 37.6. Against
the Kings, Thompson scored 18 points in 38 minutes and Curry had 13
on only 5-for-14 shooting in 36 minutes.
The Warriors moved to alleviate the minutes needed from those two by
acquiring guard Steve Blake from the Los Angeles Lakers for guards
Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks. Blake, who turns 34 next week,
averaged 9.5 points and 7.6 assists in the final year of a
four-year, $16 million contract for the Lakers.
"We're getting a big-time basketball player," Warriors coach Mark
Jackson said. "He can play the one or the two, he's a professional,
he's not afraid of the big shot. We're happy to have him."
Guard Isaiah Thomas led Sacramento with 24 points, 12 of them in the
third quarter when he led the Kings on a 15-4 run that erased the
last vestiges of Golden State's 54-39 second-quarter lead. But the
Kings (18-36) lost for the fourth time in five games and for the
11th time in 14 despite their second big trade of the season.
Sacramento sent guard Marcus Thornton to the Brooklyn Nets in
exchange for two veterans, guard Jason Terry and forward Reggie
Evans. Terry, who has averaged 15.4 points and 4.4 assists over a
15-year career, is a veteran presence that coach Michael Malone said
can help with changing the losing culture that has enveloped the
franchise. Evans, in his 12th season, will bring additional
rebounding and hustle.
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"Adding Jason and Reggie provides our roster with toughness and
veteran leadership," Kings general manager Pete D'Alessandro said.
"They bring a wealth of NBA experience that will undoubtedly make a
positive impact on our younger players."
Thornton's $8.2 million salary made him the Kings' second-highest
paid player this season, but he was scoring only 8.3 points per
game, a career-low.
The Kings did not say whether the two would be in uniform in time
for Saturday's contest against the Boston Celtics.
Sacramento didn't need its new additions to erase a 15-point
second-quarter deficit, its largest of the game. Thomas scored 10
points during the final 5:26 of the third quarter to spark the
Kings' 15-4 run that put them ahead 76-75 going into the final
period. Thomas and guard Quincy Acey also helped slow down Curry and
Thompson, picking them up early in Golden State's possessions and
limiting them to a combined three points on 1-for-5 shooting in the
third quarter.
The two opened up on fire, with Curry nailing 4 of 5 shots in the
opening period and Thompson 3 of 4. Curry made only one more shot
from the field after that, a driving layup during Golden State's
early fourth-quarter run.
Forward Andre Iguodola added 13 points for the Warriors. Forward
Travis Outlaw scored 18 points and forward Rudy Gay had 16 for the
Kings.
The Warriors have won twice in Sacramento this season, the first
time that's happened since the 2004-05 season.
NOTES: Warriors F Andrew Bogut missed his fifth straight game with
left shoulder inflammation. Bogut ranks seventh in the NBA with 1.9
blocks per game. ... With the trade of G Marcus Thornton to the
Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, the Kings have only five of 17 players — C DeMarcus Cousins, G Isaiah Thomas, G Jimmer Fredette, F Jason
Thompson and F Travis Outlaw — remaining from those who suited up
for them last season ... Warriors C Jermaine O'Neal returned after
missing the previous two games with inflammation in his right wrist
and made only his fourth starts of the season. O'Neal played in only
20 of Golden State's 53 games during the first half. ... Kings C
DeMarcus Cousins (left hip flexor sprain) missed his eighth game
because of injury this season. He missed 10 in his first three
seasons, and only nine because of injury.
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