Warriors aim to snap losing streak against Suns

ORACLE ARENA – The Warriors are in a must-win situation, no doubt about it.

Golden State has dropped a season-high six in a row and are currently tied with Utah for the sixth spot in the Western Conference.

During the schneid, they’ve allowed an average of 117.5 points per game including a season-high 140 points at Houston which was the first loss during the losing streak.

In his pregame press conference, coach Mark Jackson says he doesn’t know why the team has struggled after playing so well defensively for most of the first half:

Warriors Coach Mark Jackson

“Well we’ve been bad, individually and collectively. At points it was a thing of beauty watching us defensively. And I don’t know what the reason is but we’re not as sharp we’re not as crisp. Also, when you turn the basketball over you give up transition points, you get guys in a rhythm, you get guys confident and now it’s a different monster you’re defending. But we’re a very good defensive team and our body of work says that. Right now we’re struggling but we’re going to be fine.”

As the Dubs prepare to take on the Phoenix Suns — who are last in the Pacific Division with a record of 18-36 — there’s no mistaking, the Warriors have to get a ‘W’:

Warriors forward David Lee

“I think it’s a very important game. Yeah I think it’s a game we’ve got to take care of at home. We’ve had a lot of road games against a lot of tough teams. Phoenix is playing well but it’s a game we need to take care of.”

Center Andrew Bogut is struggling of late. He made his return on January 28 after missing 38 games to rehab his left ankle. Lee says it’s just a matter of time before Bogut becomes the game-changer the team expects him to be:

“We have a lot of faith in Andrew and what’s he capable of doing. I think he’s trying to find his rhythm right now. He struggled a little bit last night (at Utah) and we have faith he’s going to get it together and play a big role in what we’re doing the rest of the season.”

The game is televised on CSN Bay Area at 7:30 p.m., with the first 10,000 fans receiving a Klay Thompson bobblehead as a giveaway: