• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Warriors aim for first four-game winning streak of season

Apr 8, 2009 - 5:25 AM By Tom Castro STATS Senior Editor

Minnesota (23-55) at Golden State (28-49) 10:30 p.m. EDT

OAKLAND, California (AP) -- Having put a five-game losing streak behind them, the Golden State Warriors are now looking to win four in a row for the first time in 2008-09 - all with a frighteningly short bench.

Golden State tries to continue its late-season roll as it closes out its season series with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night at Oracle Arena.

The Warriors (28-49) have responded well to a five-game skid from March 22-30 by winning their last three despite having nothing to play for. Two dates with Western Conference-worst Sacramento have helped, as Golden State defeated the Kings 105-100 on Sunday night after beating them 143-141 in overtime last Wednesday to start the streak.

Making the Warriors' run more impressive, though, is that fact that they've been winning with just seven healthy players. On Sunday, Kelenna Azubuike had 30 points and 15 rebounds as Golden State picked up another victory despite having few reserves.

The Warriors used seven players in a 111-103 win over playoff-bound New Orleans on Friday night after overcoming a short rotation to outlast the Kings in overtime last Wednesday.

"We've been playing short-handed all season," guard Jamal Crawford said."We just have to compete with the guys we have. Everybody is trying to step up and fill the void."

Crawford has certainly done that in the last two games, following up a 39-point effort against New Orleans with 20 points and eight rebounds while playing every minute Sunday.

With Monta Ellis added to a long list of injured players due to a sore ankle, Golden State had to dress injured center Andris Biedrins on Sunday to have the NBA-minimum eight players in uniform.

Azubuike had 27 points and 13 rebounds in last Wednesday's victory before struggling badly versus the Hornets, going 1-of-11 from the field and finishing with six points and two boards. He bounced back nicely Sunday, recording a season high in points and a career high in rebounds.

"You've got to come back strong, regardless of what the coach says," said Azubuike, a third-year forward averaging 13.9 points and 5.0 rebounds this season. "We're just trying to finish strong. We realize it hasn't been the kind of year we wanted, but if we finish strong, we can get some momentum going into next year."

Golden State has won three straight for the second time this season. Their last four-game win streak was Feb. 26-March 4, 2008.

The Warriors will look to match that run as they take on another weak opponent in the Timberwolves (23-55), who are battling Oklahoma City to stay out of the Northwest Division cellar.

Minnesota put a little more distance between itself and the last-place Thunder with an 87-77 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.

Ryan Gomes had 24 points and 13 rebounds and Craig Smith added 16 points for the Timberwolves, winners of three of five following a seven-game skid.

Golden State has won two of three meetings with Minnesota in 2008-09 and pounded the Wolves 118-94 in the last matchup March 3 at Minneapolis. Golden State's Stephen Jackson averaged a team-high 26.0 points in the three games, but he's out for the season after undergoing toe surgery March 31.

The Warriors have won seven of the last eight meetings with the Wolves in Oakland.