THE ESSENTIALS

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Saturday at Talking Stick Resort Arena. TV: NBC Sports Bay Area. Radio: KGMZ 95.7 “The Game” in Oakland and San Francisco, KRTY 95.3 in San Jose, KION 1460 and 101.1 in Salinas and Monterey.

THE RECORDS

Warriors: 52-17, No. 2 in the Western Conference, 2½ games behind Houston.

Suns: 19-51, No. 14 in the Western Conference, 26 games behind Houston.

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LATEST RESULTS

Warriors: Lost to the Sacramento Kings 98-93 on Friday night at Oracle Arena. Golden State got Draymond Green back in the lineup, but three other All-Stars — Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson — sat out because of injuries. De’Aaron Fox led Sacramento’s closing 11-3 run with his only six points of the game.

Suns: Lost to Utah 116-88 on Thursday night in Salt Lake City for their seventh consecutive defeat.

PREVIOUS MEETING

The Warriors lead the season series 1-0. … On Feb. 12, behind the coaching of Andre Iguodala, David West, Curry and Green, Golden State smoked the Suns 129-83 at Oracle Arena. After a so-so first quarter, the Warriors ramped it up and outscored the Suns 104-59 the rest of the way. Curry had 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in three quarters.

THE COACHING ‘CONTROVERSY’

The last time these teams met, Steve Kerr handed over coaching duties during timeouts to his players. It was a brilliant move by Kerr, who mentally revitalized his players for a night during the dog days leading up to the All-Star break. This was not a disrespectful stunt at the Suns’ expense, as Kerr explained to Phoenix coach Jay Triano after the game. Nonetheless, Phoenix’s Troy Daniels and Jared Dudley took issue with the move. Heading into Saturday, Dudley might have other things to worry about.

A HOCKEY GAME BREAKS OUT

In Thursday’s game at Utah, Dudley started a mini-brawl when he cross-checked Jazz guard Ricky Rubio in the backcourt. The Suns had taken issue with Rubio, who had just hopped over the legs of a fallen Marquese Chriss at the baseline to be able to inbound the ball, which had gone out of bounds after Chriss missed a dunk. When Rubio got the return pass, Dudley hit Rubio with double-forearm shove. Rubio confronted Dudley. Chriss then came over and flattened Rubio. Dudley was charged with a flagrant foul 2 and Chriss got a technical. Both were ejected. Suspensions and fines could be announced today. Want Warriors news in your inbox? Sign up for the free DubsDaily newsletter.

INJURY UPDATE

Curry (right ankle sprain) is out at least until he is re-evaluated Tuesday after the team returns home from Monday night’s game at San Antonio. Same goes for Thompson (broken right thumb). Durant missed the Kings game because of an incomplete rib cartilage fracture and is projected to be out two weeks. Omri Casspi suffered a right ankle sprain early in the second quarter Friday night and did return. Patrick McCaw (fractured left wrist) is not ready to play. … Suns star Devin Booker is questionable because of a sprained right hand.

NOW WHAT?

The Warriors have played it extra cautiously this season when it comes to dealing with rest and injuries. But with only 13 games left in the regular season, the Warriors might be facing a tall task of trying to get into playoff form in a compressed time period. With Durant out for perhaps the rest of the month and Curry and Thompson due back Friday against Atlanta at the earliest, the Warriors might only have six games in April to get the starting lineup back in sync. This will be harder than last season when they only had to re-incorporate Durant into the lineup when he came back after missing 19 games because of his knee injury with three games left in the regular season.

A STAR IS BORN

Quinn Cook, who has split his time this season between the Warriors and their G League affiliate in Santa Cruz on a two-way contract, scored a career-high 25 points on Friday night. While scoring 13 points on perfect shooting in the first quarter, he made the Kings look like a G League team. For the game, Cook was 10 for 13 from the field and 5 of 7 on 3-pointers.

TURNING POINT

The Warriors, coming off a hot first quarter, led 47-37 with 9:04 to go in the second when Casspi stepped on David West’s foot and sprained his ankle. Suddenly, the spirited atmosphere in Oracle Arena disappeared as yet another Warrior hobbled off with an injury. From there, things turned ugly for Golden State as the Kings outscored the Warriors 15-3 to take a 52-50 lead. Those three Warriors points came on free throws as the team went 0 for 3 from the field with five turnovers during a 5:34 stretch before Andre Iguodala made a 5-foot floater.

PLUMMETING

Phoenix has lost 17 of its past 18 games and 22 of 24. The only thing keeping the Suns out of the basement of the Western Conference is the Memphis Grizzlies, who are going for their 20th consecutive defeat tonight against Denver. The last time the Grizzlies won a game was Jan. 29 at home against … Phoenix. (And yes, Memphis did start the season 5-1 and beat the Warriors 111-101 in October.) Like our Warriors Facebook page for more Warriors news, commentary and conversation.

JOIN THE CLUB

Before this season, only two teams had defeated the Warriors twice in one season during the Steve Kerr Era: San Antonio (2014-15 and 2016-17) and Memphis (2016-17). But this season, five teams — Houston, Denver, Oklahoma City, Portland and Sacramento — have gained membership in this growing club.

RARE FEAT

The Kings became the first team to beat the Warriors at Oracle Arena twice in the same season since San Antonio and Denver did it in the 2013-14 season.

DEADLY COMBINATION

It’s the worst of both worlds in Phoenix. The Suns are last in the league in defensive efficiency, yielding 110.7 points per 100 possessions. They also are last in the NBA in offensive efficiency, scoring 101.1 points per 100 possessions.

WATCH THAT TEMPER

With Curry, Thompson and Durant all out until at least Friday, Green needs to be on his best behavior for the next couple of games. With 15 technical fouls this season, his next one would result in an automatic one-game suspension. Could you imagine the Warriors without all four of their All-Stars at the same time? Related Articles Injury-riddled Warriors self-destruct in late stages against Kings

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A NOT-SO-FANTASTIC FINISH

Nick Young, making another start in place of Thompson, struggled in the final 2:26 against Sacramento. First, with Golden State up 90-89, he shot an airball 14-footer. With 1:14 to go and the Kings ahead 91-90, he charged into Willie Cauley-Stein for an offensive foul. With the score 93-93, Young was beaten badly by Buddy Hield on a drive to the basket and he fouled him. Hield made one free throw to give the Kings a 94-93 lead. Finally, with the score 96-93 with 12.6 seconds left, Young’s 3-point attempt from the top of the arc was blocked by Cauley-Stein, who wound up with a breakaway dunk for a 98-93 lead.

EXTRA POINTS

The Kings did a good job under their own basket, collecting 11 offensive rebounds, including five by Kosta Koufos. Sacramento converted those opportunities in 16 second-chance points. The Kings also scored 17 points off the Warriors’ 12 turnovers for a total of 33 extra points. When you’re missing your three leading scorers and putting up only 93 points, your opponent’s opportunities must be limited.

A LITTLE RUSTY

West returned for the Warriors on Friday night after missing four games because of a cyst on his right arm. He looked fine defensively, but his shot was off. West was 1 for 6 from the field.