Golden State
Warriors

Updated: January 9, 2009, 4:40 AM EST

Even if Ellis is able to practice next week and possibly play his way back into shape the week after, the Warriors will have missed a golden opportunity in their schedule. Wednesday's game against the Lakers began a stretch in which Golden State plays eight of nine at home, with lightweights such as the Pacers, Kings, Wizards, Thunder and Clippers included among the Oakland visitors over a 19-day stretch.

The Warriors, who fell to 10-27 with Wednesday's loss, weren't about to use the favorable schedule to get back into contention. But it was considered important nonetheless in that the current edition still has a lot to prove.

With chief decision-maker Chris Mullin's contract up at season's end, it's important that the group he has put together -- exhausting all salary-cap space in the process -- shows some promise by April. Otherwise, it's quite possible someone new will be put in charge of the future of the young club.

But with Ellis likely to miss most (if not all) of the home stretch and Stephen Jackson also out of action up to two weeks with a strained hamstring, this isn't the time for the Warriors to stage their showcase.

Rather, it'll now have to be rescheduled for Feb. 8 through March 1, a stretch in which they play seven of eight at home.

LAKERS 114, WARRIORS 106: Another game, another injury. As the Warriors were beginning their comeback from a 17-point deficit Wednesday, starting power forward Brandan Wright suffered a partially dislocated left shoulder. Wright already had contributed five points and nine rebounds to the cause when he went to the locker room late in the second period. The undermanned Warriors thrilled a sellout crowd by eventually catching the Lakers and led into the fourth quarter mainly on the strength of a season-best 28 fast-break points, but ultimately the defending Western Conference champs proved too powerful for a club without Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson and Wright.

--The home game was just the Warriors' 14th of the season. No team has played fewer.

--The Warriors recorded their fourth sellout of the season.

--The Warriors were without reserve guard Anthony Morrow, who was with his girlfriend as she prepared to give birth to a baby girl.

--The Warriors visit Portland on Saturday night, then don't have another road game until Jan. 28 at Dallas. In between, they'll play seven in a row at home.

--The Warriors haven't played consecutive games in the same city since Dec. 10 and 12.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I was real surprised when (coach Don Nelson) called my name." -- Anthony Randolph, who had been banished to full-time bench duty five games ago, only to get summoned into Wednesday's game after Brandan Wright suffered a shoulder injury.

--C Andris Biedrins recorded his 22nd double-double of the season with 12 points and 17 rebounds in Wednesday's home loss to the Lakers. He missed his first triple-double by two assists, recording a career-best eight. Biedrins has now had six consecutive games with 13 or more rebounds, although none of his 17 came off the offensive boards against the Lakers. He'd had at least one offensive rebound in each of the Warriors' previous 36 games.

--G Jamal Crawford led the Warriors with 25 points, but it took him 26 shots to get to that figure. It was the ninth time in 22 games as a Warrior that he registered more shot attempts than points.

--F Corey Maggette started and played 38 minutes in his second game back after a 15-game absence due to a partially torn hamstring. Warriors coach Don Nelson had said he planned to bring Maggette off the bench for a while as a precautionary move, but he changed his mind following Stephen Jackson's hamstring injury Monday at Utah. Maggette started in Jackson's place Wednesday.

--F Anthony Randolph played for the first time in five games and had a busy 12 minutes with eight points, two rebounds and a blocked shot. He also found time for two turnovers and three fouls, however.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--G Monta Ellis (ankle) passed a strength test on his surgically repaired left ankle Tuesday and will be allowed to escalate his running and jumping the rest of this week. He might be ready to return to team practice next week. Ellis underwent surgery on his left ankle in August and has yet to play this season.

--F Stephen Jackson (hamstring) is expected to be out two weeks following a hamstring strain he suffered Monday at Utah.

--F Brandan Wright (shoulder) partially dislocated his left shoulder in the second quarter Wednesday and left the game for good. He is out indefinitely.

--G Kelenna Azubuike (flu) returned from a one-game absence to play 21 minutes against the Lakers off the bench.