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Steve Kerr insists Golden State Warriors are prioritising health over playoff seeding

Coach Steve Kerr introduced DeMarcus Cousins into the game
Image: Steve Kerr confirmed the Warriors will continue to prevent DeMarcus Cousins from playing in back-to-back games

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr insists he will prioritise the health of his players over their playoff seeding during the final stretch of the NBA regular season.

The Warriors defeated the visiting Detroit Pistons 121-114 on Sunday night to reach 50 wins for a sixth straight season.

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The win put Golden State (50-23) half a game ahead of the Denver Nuggets - who lost to Indiana on Sunday - in the conference standings, but the Warriors won without center DeMarcus Cousins and guard/forward Andre Iguodala, who were given the night off to rest.

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Highlights from the NBA as Detroit Pistons took on Golden State Warriors at the Oracle Arena

Kerr said Cousins is still recovering from last season's left Achilles tendon injury, which sidelined him until January of this season.

"With DeMarcus, we made the decision based on Rick's assessment he should just not play back-to-backs this season, so he's not going to," Kerr said, referring to Rick Celebrini, the Warriors' director of sports medicine and performance.

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On Saturday, while the Warriors were crushed 126-91 on their home court by the lowly Dallas Mavericks, they did not have Stephen Curry and Shaun Livingston, who were given the night off.

Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after a game against the Detroit Pistons on March 24, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California.
Image: Stephen Curry returned from a one-game rest to lead the Warriors to victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday

"Every once in a while, it'll just come up that Rick will recommend let's give somebody a rest," Kerr said.

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"Last night it was Steph. He's been going a couple months straight. Has looked a little tired the last couple of weeks, so it made perfect sense.

"I think we'll be better for it in the long run. So within all that, we try to win."

Kevin Durant (L) #35 of the Golden State Warriors works with Dr. Rick Celebrini, director of sports medicine and performance for the Warriors, during a shootaround ahead of the team's preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers at T-Mobile Arena on October 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada
Image: Dr. Rick Celebrini works with Warriors forward Kevin Durant

The Warriors have nine games remaining, and the Nuggets (49-23) have 10 games left, and the teams play each other April 2 in Oakland. That date is not part of a back-to-back for the Warriors, though it's the front end of one for Denver.

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said this week he would consider getting his key players some rest down the stretch, noting that the Warriors have a friendlier schedule down the stretch to claim the top spot in the conference.

The Houston Rockets are third in the conference, 3.5 games behind the Warriors.

Sunday night's scores

  • Los Angeles Clippers 124-113 New York Knicks
  • Cleveland Cavaliers 105-127 Milwaukee Bucks
  • Denver Nuggets 88-124 Indiana Pacers
  • Charlotte Hornets 115-114 Toronto Raptors
  • Houston Rockets 113-90 New Orleans Pelicans
  • San Antonio Spurs 115-96 Boston Celtics
  • Detroit Pistons 114-121 Golden State Warriors
  • Sacramento Kings 106-111 Los Angeles Lakers

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