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Warriors hope to keep pace in playoff chase

Apr 14, 2008 - 2:24 PM Golden State (48-32) at Phoenix (53-27) 10:00 pm EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) - Both the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors have sputtered lately. While late struggles may cost the former a shot at home court advantage, they may have cost the latter a shot at the playoffs altogether.

The Warriors look to remain in the postseason hunt on Monday when they face the Suns.

Golden State trails Denver (49-32) by a half-game in the Western Conference and needs to finish with a better regular season win as the Nuggets own the playoff tiebreaker. The Warriors, who haven't won two straight games in over a month, will be eliminated if they lose either of their final games or if Denver defeats Memphis on Wednesday.

They are coming off a 122-116 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday in which Stephen Jackson scored 28 points and Baron Davis added 25.

Phoenix has already wrapped up a playoff spot, but is just 3-3 this month after winning 10 of its last 12 games in March. The Suns saw their two-game winning streak come to an end on Friday in a 101-90 setback in Houston.

The Suns cannot fall further than their current No. 6 seed in the West but could move up to as high as No. 3 if a multitude of scenarios fall in their favor. However, they will not win the Pacific Division for the fourth straight season because the Los Angeles Lakers (56-25) clinched that Friday night.