Golden State tops sales of NBA gear in China

The Warriors are cementing their status as China’s favorite team.

In addition to Golden State eclipsing the Lakers in team merchandise sales in the country this season, Warriors point guard Stephen Curry has dethroned Kobe Bryant with China’s best-selling jersey. This comes a day after news surfaced that Curry had the bestselling jersey stateside for the second straight year and that Golden State maintained its spot atop team merchandise sales.

The Warriors, who played in China in 2008 and 2013, will return there for two preseason games against Minnesota next season as part of the NBA’s 2017 Global Games. Curry did an Under Armour-sponsored tour of the country this past offseason, and Klay Thompson has a deal with Anta, a Chinese shoe company.

Barnes doubtful: Warriors forward Matt Barnes probably won’t play in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series against Portland, head coach Steve Kerr said.

Barnes, who didn’t return after leaving with a sprained right ankle in the second quarter of Saturday’s win over the Pelicans, has yet to return to basketball work. Though Barnes has been a solid rotation player since signing with the Warriors last month, his absence would hardly be a gamechanging blow.

Barnes, after all, has already served the primary purpose of his signing, providing wing depth to help Golden State weather Kevin Durant’s left knee injury. With Durant now healthy, the Warriors boast one of the league’s deeper wing rotations.

In 20 games with Golden State, Barnes is averaging 5.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 20.5 minutes.

Walton’s backing: Count Lakers head coach Luke Walton among those who are picking the Warriors to win an NBA title.

“I think they’re the best team in the league, and they’ve started showing what they’re capable of doing,” Walton said before Wednesday’s game. “They’re my favorites heading into the playoffs.”

Walton was on Kerr’s Golden State staff for two seasons before he left after the 2016 NBA Finals to take over the Lakers. While Kerr recovered from complications from back surgery last season, Walton guided the Warriors to a 39-4 mark that featured a record 24-0 start.