Matt Barnes spared no words of his dislike for the Sacramento Kings prior to his visit to the state capital, the first as a renewed member of the Golden State Warriors.
“I’m trying to kill 'em,” Barnes told Connor LeTourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle. “Simple. Things didn’t go well there. They’re the enemy now.”
The 6-foot-7 wing was waived by the Kings following the DeMarcus Cousins trade, which brought in an influx of guards from New Orleans in return for the All-Star big man. His fire, regardless of the reason, will be a key asset for the team next week, as they face the Houston Rockets twice, as well as the San Antonio Spurs, and the Washington Wizards — all seeded in the top three of their conferences or better.
Barnes has every bit the competitor he was expected to be, following his acquisition earlier this month. His unselfishness, defensive tenacity, and veteran know-how have been an integral part of the team's five-game win streak, as Golden State looks to peak at the right moment.
Golden State has beaten its last five opponents by an average of 19.6 points per game during the streak.
The Warriors have gone 2-1 against the Kings this season, their only loss coming on Feb. 4 during an overtime affair that saw forwards Kevin Durant and Draymond Green get into an animated argument in the sidelines following a timeout.
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