OAKLAND, Calif. _ Stephen Curry likes to use the phrase "lock in" on game days, but he was easily sidetracked at the morning shoot-around Friday, where the Golden State Warriors tuned up for their 143-94 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
Curry spotted BB-8, a roly-poly droid from the "Star Wars" movies, hanging out near the court and beep-blip-beeping along to the action. Curry joked that the droid probably learned some trash talk from Draymond Green.
"Talk about getting distracted," Curry cracked. "I took five shots in the corner over here and saw him roll in. We just stopped and were staring at him."
Having a Star Wars presence on hand helped make up for the lack of star power Friday night, when the Warriors played without Kevin Durant (as a precaution because of a sore ankle) and Green (scheduled rest).
But Curry also did his part by making shots from a galaxy far, far away. His other-worldly performance included 33 points _ all but two of them before halftime. Klay Thompson had 29 points on 12 of 17 shooting.
Jordan Bell pitched in, too, making his first career start in place of Green. The rookie had 7 points, 4 assists, 6 rebounds and 5 blocks. Bell even delivered a few Green-esque sparks: He hammered home an alley-oop pass from Zaza Pachulia early in the first quarter. And, in the game's best defensive play, Bell chased down Denzel Valentine on a breakaway to block his shot with panache in the third quarter.
"I've been wanting to get him active and play him anyway. But with Draymond out, it was a pretty easy choice," Coach Steve Kerr said of Bell before the game.
The timing of Bell's start made a nice little plotline for the former Oregon star, who was taken with by the Bulls with the 38th pick in the draft. Chicago promptly traded him to the Warriors for $3.5 million in cash considerations.
Despite the move, Bell on Friday expressed no ill-will toward the franchise that traded him away. "They made it clear they didn't want me," he said. "They drafted me for the Warriors so I don't take it to heart."
Green will be back in the lineup Saturday when the Warriors (14-5) host the New Orleans Pelicans (11-8). He sat out this time only because Kerr is already looking ahead to the postseason. The coach recalled that in some of the Finals games last season, there were nights when Green showed signs of wear and tear.
So Kerr talked to the combustible forward about taking more time off this season _ and Green bought in.
"Even though he doesn't love it, he agrees it's a good idea," Kerr said.
Durant, meanwhile, is still dealing with the effects of a ankle sprain Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers. Kerr said Durant reported to the team's facility Friday feeling "some soreness in his ankle that was significant enough to keep him out."
Durant is averaging 24.7 and 2.06 blocks per game this season. He and Kristaps Porzingis of the New York Knicks are the only two NBA players averaging at least 24 points and two blocks per game.
_Not even Curry, with his two MVP awards, can get permission from his family to tee it up on a holiday. He kept his clubs in the bag on Thursday. "I don't know who can get the hall pass to go play golf on Thanksgiving Day," he said with a laugh. "That's one I haven't even dared at yet."
_Two-way guard Quinn Cook joined the team from the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League. Cook averaged 26.3 points on 53.7 percent shooting from the field, including 45 percent from beyond the arc in seven games from Santa Cruz.
_Robin Lopez was called for a flagrant foul for a hard takedown of Pachulia with 4:25 to play in the third quarter. Pachulia was driving for a layup when Lopez brought both arms down hard on Pachulia's shoulders.
