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- Interim Suns coach Lindsay Hunter had no comment on the trade news of the day: the widely reported exchange of a 2013 second-round draft pick from Phoenix to Houston for Rockets forward Marcus Morris. Assuming the deal goes through, it will reunite Morris with his twin brother, Markieff. Markieff Morris certainly seemed giddy about something when he Tweeted earlier this evening, “Can’t explain this feeling!!!”
- Given the circumstances — a six-game losing streak, facing the worst team in the Western Conference — perhaps it’s no surprise that Warriors coach Mark Jackson is drawing a line in the proverbial sand. “To me, this is the biggest game of the season for us,” Jackson said. “It will tell a lot about us.”
- There will be no lineup changes for the Warriors, however, despite Jackson’s statements in the wake of last night’s desultory loss at Utah that he was looking to “shake some things up.” Jackson acted surprised that the notion was even brought up in his pre-game press conference. “That never entered my head,” Jackson said. “I don’t know where that came from.”
- That means guard Klay Thompson will play tonight for Golden State, presumably putting an end to trade rumors that had him going to New Orleans for Eric Gordon.
- It also means center Andrew Bogut will play for the first time this season in both halves of a back-to-back — although he only clocked 15 minutes against the Jazz.
- Hunter relishes the idea of facing a riled-up Warriors team, if only to see how his club reacts. “I think it’s a good test for us, because they’re going to play desperate,” Hunter said. “They’re going to play like this is ‘playoffs or bust’ for them.”
– Geoff Lepper
