High-flying Golden State Warriors will set out to continue their recent resurgence when they visit the Barclays Center on Friday to lock horns with the Brooklyn Nets.
While the away side will head into this one on a high, the home side could really do with a pick-me-up off the back of six defeats in seven matches since returning from the All-Star break.
Match preview
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After winning each of their final five matches in February, the Golden State Warriors were dealt an early blow in March as they fell to a 126-119 defeat against the Philadelphia 76ers but have since responded with wins over the Charlotte Hornets and the New York Knicks.
Steve Kerr's men showed great fighting spirit against the Knicks last time out to overturn an eight-point first-half deficit and claim a 114-102 win courtesy of a second-half avalanche led by the ever-amazing Steph Curry.
Continuing his 12-year unbeaten run at Madison Square Garden, where he also broke Ray Allen's record for the most three-pointers in NBA history in 2021, Curry notched 28 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, while Jimmy Butler and Brandin Podziemski scored 19 points apiece.
The Warriors are now 9-2 over their last 11 games either side of the All-Star break and currently sit sixth in a tightly packed Western Conference standings heading into their final 20 matches of the regular season.
Having come out on top in five of their most recent six away outings, Friday's visitors will now set out to wrap their five-game road trip on a high before embarking on a seven-game homestretch between March 9 and 21.
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Taking on a San Antonio Spurs outfit without the services of Victor Wembanyama, the Brooklyn Nets headed to the Frost Bank Center aiming to avoid a fifth straight defeat but were comprehensively beaten 127-113.
Despite a rough start to the first quarter that saw them shoot just 39% from the field, Jordi Fernandez's men went into the interval down just five points before being outscored by 14 in the third quarter to effectively end the game as a contest.
Featuring for only the second time since returning to action from a hamstring injury, Cam Thomas tallied 24 points on 8-19 shooting to record a fifth 20-point performance in his last six appearances either side of the new year.
A 21-40 record across 61 matches so far leaves the Nets 12th in the Eastern Conference standings, although their postseason hopes are far from over as they sit just three wins shy of the Chicago Bulls in the race for 10th which guarantees a play-in spot.
Currently racking up fewer points per game (105) than every team in the NBA but one, Friday's hosts will have to up the ante on the attacking front as they prepare to take on an opposing side averaging over 122 points across their last seven involvements.
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Team News
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Noah Clowney is still battling with an ankle problem that has ruled him out since the end of January, but the forward is edging increasingly closer to making a comeback.
De'Anthony Melton will not have the opportunity to face off against his former employers due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered back in November.
Twenty-two-year-old Jonathan Kuminga has played just twice in 2025 and is not expected to play any part for the Golden State Warriors on Friday due to an ankle issue.
The away side will also be without the services of Gary Payton II and Jackson Rowe, who are currently unavailable due to nose and elbow injuries respectively.
Brooklyn Nets possible starting five:
Russell, Thomas; Johnson, Williams; Claxton
Golden State Warriors possible starting five:
Curry, Podziemski; Butler, Moody; Green
We say: Warriors to win by 8+ points
The Warriors are hitting top gear at probably the best time possible as they look to nail down an automatic playoff spot.
We are tipping them to run out comfortable winners in New York City for the second game running.
Adepoju Marvellous
