Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors are on the verge of another sweep of the Sacramento Kings, and DeMarcus Cousins has done very little in the first three meetings.
That's because he didn't play twice and was ejected in the last one.
There's a good chance that Thompson and the visiting Warriors will see more of the red-hot Cousins on Saturday night than they have all season as they look to defeat the Kings for the 12th straight time.
Golden State is off to the best 36-game start in history at 34-2 after Friday's 128-108 rout at Portland.
"We couldn't ask for a better start almost midway through the regular season," Thompson said. "It's crazy how fast the season's going. Obviously winning helps that but we're still hungry and a long way to go before where we want to get to but you've also got to enjoy this, it's really special, we've got a very special group."
Thompson turned in a second straight 36-point effort with seven 3-pointers, scoring 19 in the first quarter. He is averaging 33.2 points on 52.1 percent shooting in a five-game win streak, making 27 of 54 3s.
His Warriors seek a third straight four-game sweep of the Kings (15-21) after winning by an average of 15.7 points in the first three meetings. Thompson and Stephen Curry have combined for 128 points in those games.
Cousins did not play twice in this series before he was tossed in a 122-103 loss Dec. 28. He was limited to nine first-half minutes thanks to three fouls before lasting three more in the third quarter before being ejected after arguing his fifth foul. The big man finished with seven points and four rebounds.
He's been unstoppable in four games in 2016, averaging 32.3 points and 13.8 rebounds while shooting 53.6 percent with Sacramento going 3-1.
Two nights after Tuesday's double-overtime loss at Dallas, the Kings blew a 27-point lead in a 118-115 home win over the lowly Los Angeles Lakers. Cousins finished with 29 points, 10 boards and a season-high seven assists, though he wasn't happy with the effort.
"I'm not satisfied, we could be so much better," Cousins said. "The way we played the previous three games, that's the right way of playing."
Rajon Rondo, the NBA's leader with 11.6 assists per game, returned Thursday after missing a game with back spasms and had nine points and 12 assists. He is averaging 8.3 points and 8.0 assists against Golden State.
The Warriors had way more than just Thompson's sensational shooting Friday. Curry had 26 points and nine assists before sitting out the fourth quarter, Draymond Green finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his eighth triple-double and Brandon Rush scored 20 on 8-of-9 shooting.
"The team we have now is amazing," Rush said. "We've got a lot of weapons out there. Everybody can score, everybody can put the ball in the basket."
Golden State's last two wins over Sacramento each were by 19 points and came without Harrison Barnes, who is back now. He is coming off the bench in three games with Rush in the starting lineup after missing 16 due to a sprained left ankle.
