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Warriors-Suns Preview

Oct 30, 2009 - 4:17 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Golden State (0-1) at Phoenix (1-0), 10:00 p.m. EDT

Golden State rookie Stephen Curry fit in well in the Warriors' high-scoring offense in his NBA debut, but the real test could be keeping up with his team's next opponent.

Curry and the Warriors visit the Phoenix Suns on Friday night, looking to end an eight-game losing streak at US Airways Center.

Phoenix and Golden State have been two of the NBA's highest-scoring teams over the last three seasons and the games between the two have been particularly fast-paced. The Suns averaged 124.5 points and the Warriors scored 118.0 per game in the teams' four meetings last season.

Curry will get his first look at the rivalry Friday night. The seventh overall pick in June's draft led the nation with 28.6 points per game last season with Davidson, and he looked just as comfortable in his first NBA game Wednesday, finishing with 14 points, seven assists and four steals in Golden State's 108-107 loss to Houston.

Curry was 1 for 6 in the first half but made all six of his shots in the second.

"I just have to have confidence that the next shot is going in," said Curry, who had three steals and three assists in the opening 7 1/2 minutes. "I had a lot of fun tonight, learned a lot and now I'm ready to come back against the Phoenix Suns."

As successful as Curry's debut was, Stephen Jackson had a mixed season opener after a tumultuous summer highlighted by his demand for a trade.

Jackson finished with 17 points on 7 of 16 shooting, getting booed often as rumors continue to circulate that he could be leaving the Warriors soon.

"It is what it is," said Jackson, who handed over his role as team captain to Monta Ellis. "I don't expect everybody to love me. I heard it but I didn't let it affect my game at all. To each his own. I've been booed many times. This isn't the first time."

The Warriors have lost eight in a row at Phoenix since a 110-100 victory March 18, 2005. Suns forward Grant Hill averaged 27.0 points in the two home games against the Warriors last season.

Hill, in his 15th NBA season, will be playing in his 789th career game Friday. The 37-year-old was impressive in the Suns' 109-107 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, finishing with 19 points and 13 rebounds.

However, Steve Nash overshadowed Hill's performance, scoring 15 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, including a layup with five seconds remaining to give the Suns the lead after they trailed by as many as 10.

"He's a warrior and one of the leaders on our team," coach Alvin Gentry said.

Nash, who last season failed to average a double-double for the first time since 2003-04, will be a key factor in whether the Suns can get back to the playoffs after falling short for the first time in five years. Also important will be how Amare Stoudemire, who had 16 points and five rebounds Wednesday, bounces back after playing in only 53 games last season because of an eye injury.

"Primarily because this was our first game of the season and we're really not sure how good we can be yet, it was just a big win for our confidence," Nash said. "We won it with some timely execution and a few stops."