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Checking out the Golden State Warriors

SITTING AT .500: Golden State is currently 10-10 after 20 games...The club's 10-9 record after 19 games was the latest they have been over .500 in any season since a season-ending 52-30 record in 1993-94.

WARRIORS SET TO HIT THE ROAD: Golden State is currently 1-1 (1-1 on road, 0-0 at home) during a stretch in which they will play 12 of 16 games on the road...Following Friday night's game vs. New Orleans, Golden State will play 10 of its next 13 away from The Arena in Oakland.

RICHARDSON'S BUZZER-BEATER DOWNS TIMBERWOLVES: Jason Richardson led the Warriors to a 98-95 victory at Minnesota last night (12/9), tallying 30 points (11-24 FG, 3-7 3FG, 5-6 FT), nine rebounds and five assists in 40 minutes -- all of which were team highs...J-Rich but his final stamp on the contest with a game-winning three-pointer with 0.2 seconds remaining to give the Warriors their sixth victory in eight games.

THE CUSTODIAN AMONG TOP RESERVES: Brian "The Custodian" Cardinal is one of seven players in the NBA who has yet to start a game, but is averaging 10-plus points...Among those players, he is averaging the fewest minutes per game...Here's a look:

PLAYER PPG MPG
Bobby Jackson 13.1 ppg, 23.9 mpg
Earl Boykins 12.2 ppg, 23.9 mpg
Eric Williams 11.8 ppg, 24.3 mpg
Maurice Taylor 10.9 ppg, 26.1 mpg
Brian Cardinal 10.7 ppg, 23.0 mpg
Shane Battier 10.4 ppg, 25.1 mpg
Darryl Armstrong 10.3 ppg, 23.8 mpg

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Nick Van Exel, on his decision to pass to Jason Richardson in the final seconds of the team's victory at Minnesota rather than take the last-second shot himself: "To me it just doesn't matter who makes it. It's all about the team." -Nick Van Exel