Warriors are for real

Golden State is 12-7 and is just 1 1/2 games behind the division-leading Los Angeles Clippers in the Pacific.

The streaking Detroit Pistons go for their fifth straight win when they visit the Warriors on Friday at The Arena in Oakland. It is the first of two meetings between the squads this season. Detroit is scheduled to host Golden State on December 23rd at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The home team has won 10 of the last 11 meetings in this series. Detroit has won five of its last nine at Golden State.

Golden State attempts to get back on the winning track, as it plays the finale of a six-game homestand against Detroit. The Warriors are 4-1 on the current stand. On Wednesday, reigning MVP Steve Nash scored 28 points and dished out 14 assists to pace the Phoenix Suns to a 118-110 victory over the Warriors at The Arena.

Baron Davis totaled 28 points and six rebounds before fouling out in the loss to Phoenix for the Warriors, who had their five-game winning streak halted . Mike Dunleavy added 21 points, Derek Fisher netted 18 and Jason Richardson scored 17 in defeat.

On the injury front, Golden State forward Troy Murphy (flu) is questionable for Friday’s game. Murphy, who did not play against Phoenix, is averaging 16.1 points and a team-best 8.6 rebounds per game.

The Warriors are 8-4 as the host this season.

Richardson, who has scored in double-digits in all 19 of the Warriors games, leads Golden State in scoring (22.2 ppg), while Davis, who has handed out 10 or more assists eight times this season, has dished out a team-best 9.3 assists per game.

Golden State is 7-2 when it scores 100 or more points this season.