Warriors continue playoff prep with Phoenix in town

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Golden State Warriors have wrapped up almost everything possible, but will prepare for the postseason, starting Thursday against the Phoenix Suns at Oracle Arena.

The Warriors secured the Pacific Division and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. The only thing left is homecourt throughout the entire playoffs, but the Warriors lead the Atlanta Hawks by 5 1/2 games.

Golden State has won 10 in a row and 13 straight at home. The Warriors are a staggering 34-2 at Oracle Arena this season, and they've won 18 consecutive contests against Western Conference foes.

The winning streak reached 10 on Tuesday with a spirited 110-106 road victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

The game within the game began before the tip when Clippers coach Doc Rivers accused the Warriors of sitting Draymond Green because "they didn't want to take the risk of going 2-2 (versus the Clippers this season) with their regular guys."

Golden State coach Steve Kerr, who was named Western Conference Coach of the Month for March, responded with, "Oh, is that right? Either that or we have a nine-game lead and a couple guys banged up. Somewhere in there."

Steph Curry scored 27 points, Klay Thompson added 25 and the Warriors ended the Clippers' seven-game winning streak.

David Lee scored 17 points in a rare start and Marreese Speights chipped in 13 off the bench for Golden State.

Andre Iguodala, who didn't make a field goal, got fouled shooting a 3 in front of the Clippers bench with 1:10 to play and sank all three free throws, extending the Warriors lead to 106-102.

Los Angeles' Chris Paul cut it to two with a layup at the other end, but Curry and Thompson both stepped up and hit a pair of free throws in the closing seconds.

"Our guys really got their competitive spirit going in the second half," said Kerr. "This is what competitors do. It was a great effort."

Green is listed as questionable on Thursday.

The Suns are dangerously close to being out of the Western Conference playoff race. Phoenix is four games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for the eighth and final postseason berth.

The Suns have dropped four straight at a terrible time. On Monday, Phoenix fell to the Portland Trail Blazers, 109-86, to allow Portland to secure a playoff spot.

Gerald Green and T.J. Warren poured in 13 points apiece off the bench to lead the Suns. Eric Bledsoe chipped in 12, followed by 11 each for Markieff and Marcus Morris. P.J. Tucker added 10.

Portland had already led by six points at the break, but seized complete control after outscoring Phoenix 37-16 in the third.

The Blazers were up nine before a 15-2 run put the game out of reach. Portland took a 92-65 margin into the fourth, where it coasted to the easy win.

"We played hard but they're a good team," Bledsoe said. "At the end of the day, that's why they're in the position they're in, trying to fight for a high seed."

The Warriors won two of three this season against the Suns and are 10-3 in recent history. Golden State has won six in a row as the host in this series.