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Davis, Warriors face Yao and Rockets

Apr 4, 2007 - 4:30 PM Golden State (35-39) at Houston (47-27) 8:30 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) - Baron Davis and the Golden State Warriors have a big obstacle in their way as they fight for their playoff lives.

Hoping Davis can keep his cool, the Warriors take on Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

The Warriors have won two straight games, including Sunday's 122-117 victory over Memphis. Jason Richardson scored 26 points and Stephen Jackson added 21 to cover for Davis, the star point guard who was ejected in the first quarter.

Golden State is 9-3 in games played by Davis since he returned from arthroscopic knee surgery. The two-time All-Star is averaging 18.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.17 steals in that stretch.

The Warriors (35-39) have won six of nine and trail the Los Angeles Clippers (36-37) by 1 1/2 games for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

It is the closest Golden State has been to a playoff spot this late in the season since 1999. The Warriors have not made the playoffs since 1994.

Houston had a three-game winning streak snapped with Sunday's 86-83 loss to Utah that dumped the Rockets 1 1/2 games behind the Jazz for the fourth-best record in the West and home-court advantage in the first round. Yao scored 35 points and hauled in 16 rebounds.

Golden State and Houston have split a pair of games this season, with each team winning at home. In a 109-107 loss December 14, Yao had 38 points and 18 rebounds.