Golden State @ Sacramento preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 16, 2018 ) Sacramento 98, Golden State 93

The Golden State Warriors got one of their star players back from injury on Thursday, but he didn't last long as the team suffered its third straight setback. Kevin Durant will try to keep his emotions in check when the Warriors try to snap the slide by visiting the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.

Golden State is still missing Stephen Curry (knee) and Klay Thompson (hand), but Durant (ribs) returned from a six-game absence on Thursday and was ejected late in the second quarter after drawing two technical fouls for arguing with officials. "It's just my emotions and passion for the game," Durant told ESPN.com after Friday's practice session. "After winning that championship (last season), I learned that much hadn't changed. I thought it would fill a certain [void]. It didn't. That's when I realized in the offseason that the only thing that matters is this game and how much work you put into it. Everything else off the court, social media, perception, isn't important. What people say, how they view you, it's not important." The Warriors are locked into the No. 2 spot in the West and are just trying to get healthy and find a rhythm heading into the playoffs. The Kings are fighting for lottery position and dropped three straight and five of their last six games.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (Golden State), NBCS California (Sacramento)

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (54-21): Durant wasn't the only All-Star to return for Golden State on Thursday as Draymond Green (pelvic contusion, illness) came back after a three-game absence and delivered 11 points and six assists in 28 minutes. Curry's replacement at the starting point guard spot, Quinn Cook, did his best Curry impression in the 116-107 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks by exploding for 30 points on 12-of-15 shooting, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range. Cook is averaging 19.6 points over the last eight games.

ABOUT THE KINGS (24-52): Sacramento is focusing on player development and is seeing signs of growth from center Willie Cauley-Stein. The 24-year-old Kentucky product scored 19 points in Thursday's 106-103 loss to the Indiana Pacers and is 14-of-16 from the floor over the last two games after going 5-of-19 in the previous two. Power forward Skal Labissiere is trying to find some consistency and slumped to two points on 1-of-5 shooting on Thursday after leading the team with 19 points on 8-of-15 in Tuesday's loss to Dallas.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Warriors SF Andre Iguodala (knee) left Thursday's game and is not expected to play Saturday.

2. Kings PF Zach Randolph (illness) sat out the last four games and remains day-to-day.

3. Sacramento snapped a four-game losing streak in the series with a 98-93 win at Golden State on March 16.

PREDICTION: Warriors 109, Kings 98