by Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors got off to a slow start Tuesday night as the played the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento. The Kings (17-29) started Darren Collison, Rudy Gay, Ben McLemore, Derrick Williams and All-Star Center DeMarcus Cousins hoping to somehow beat the Warriors and prevent the Warriors from sweeping the 4 game season series. The Kings got off to a hot start and behind Ben McLemore’s eleven points took an early 20-10 lead. The Warriors then went on a 19-2 run behind the great play of the second unit. Key players were Andre Iguodala, David Lee. Mo Speights, Leandro Barbosa and Shaun Livingstone and the first period ended with the Warriors holding a seven point 29-22 advantage.

The Warriors behind great defense and great hustle of the second unit extended the lead to 37-22 before Sacramento could right the ship and hope to get back into the game. At this point in the game, the Warrior bench had produced 24 points as compared to just 8 from the Kings’ bench. Again, it was good defense, hot shooting, great passing and strong contributions from the bench. The half ended with Golden State leading 63-42. The Warriors had 22 assists and just 4 turnovers in the first 24 minutes of play..

The Warriors increased the lead to 25 early in the 3rd period. Andrew Bogut had contained DeMarcus Cousins all night but Bogut had to sit down as he committed his fourth foul early in the 3rd period.

Cousins went to work on Mo Speights and the Kings clawed their way back and cut the deficit to just 11 near the end of the period. The Warriors led by 14 as the start of the fourth period and the second unit took control of the game. Speights, Iguodala, Lee and Barbosa continued their strong play and the Warriors won by 22 as the final score was 121-99.

The Warriors’ Steph Curry played 29 minutes and had 23 points and 9 assists. Klay Thompson scored just 14 but the bench was led by Mo Speights who had 17 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Andre Iguodala pitched in with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist while Leandro Barbosa’s numbers were 12 points,3 rebounds and 5 assists. Andrew Bogut had 6 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocked shots as the Warriors swept the season series from the Kings and have beat them 8 straight times.

After the game coach Steve Kerr said " that was a great win and the guys on the bench came in and just took over."

The Warriors return to Oakland Wednesday night to face the Dallas Mavericks at 7:30PT and then go on a four game road trip before the All-Star break with stops in Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia and Minnesota. Don’t forget to stay warm guys and good luck on the trip. Thw Warriors are now 38-8 for the season.