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Bobcats-Warriors Preview

Jan 28, 2010 - 9:32 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Charlotte (22-22) at Golden State (13-31), 10:30 p.m. EDT

Stephen Jackson got his wish after demanding a trade from the Golden State Warriors. He may have some former teammates who wish they could have joined him.

Jackson returns to Oracle Arena on Friday night for his first game there since Golden State traded him to Charlotte in November, facing a Warriors team that seems to be getting increasingly frustrated with coach Don Nelson.

Jackson essentially forced his way out of Golden State, getting fined $25,000 by the NBA when he went public with his trade demand in August. He was upset with the Warriors' decline after they reached the second round of the 2007 playoffs, and was feuding with Nelson.

He got into a spat with Nelson during an exhibition game in October, leading to a two-game suspension and the loss of his captain title.

The Warriors (13-31) traded Jackson to the Bobcats (22-22) on Nov. 16, adding Acie Law in a deal that brought them Raja Bell and Vladimir Radmanovic.

Jackson, averaging 21.1 points with his new team, has helped turn Charlotte into a playoff contender. He had 30 points, including nine of the first 12 in overtime, as the Bobcats beat Phoenix 114-109 on Tuesday night for the franchise's first win over the Suns.

"I'll be looking forward to seeing him," Nelson said. "He's a good friend. We split company and it had nothing to do with our friendship. I'm not surprised at all (he's doing so well). He's a heck of a basketball player."

Nelson has had disagreements with Warriors leading scorer Monta Ellis this season, and now appears to be having issues with Corey Maggette.

The veteran forward was held to 14 points and shot 5 for 13 in Golden State's 123-110 loss to New Orleans on Wednesday night. That was a day after he was whistled for a costly technical in the closing seconds and pointed angrily at Nelson during a 99-96 loss at Sacramento.

Maggette shot 3 for 22 versus the Kings.

Ellis returned to face the Hornets after missing two games with a sprained right ankle. He had 19 points after averaging 30.7 in his previous 16 outings.

With Nelson's up-tempo offense and talented players such as Ellis, Golden State is third in the NBA with 107.5 points a contest.

Rookie point guard Stephen Curry has fit in nicely, averaging 14.0 points, 4.6 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.9 steals. Friday's matchup was one that Curry was looking forward to after being drafted seventh overall.

His father, Dell Curry, is a commentator on the Bobcats' television broadcasts. Dell Curry played with five teams over 16 years, 10 of those with the Charlotte Hornets.

"I was a basketball kid. I've been doing this all my life," said Stephen Curry, selected to the All-Star Game's Rookie Challenge on Wednesday. "Even though he did play 16 years in the NBA, it's stuff I can figure out on my own."

He had 15 points against New Orleans after averaging 28.0 in his previous three games.

Curry and Ellis may take turns trying to guard Jackson, who had a game-high 33 points for Golden State in a 112-109 home loss to Charlotte on Feb. 27, the teams' last meeting. The Bobcats won the other matchup with the Warriors last season 110-103 on Dec. 20.