Game story from tomorrow’s paper

WASHINGTON– Warriors guard Monta Ellis, after getting caught in the air on a drive to the basket, threw an errant pass towards the top.

Point guard Stephen Curry — fresh off a four-game stint on the bench — chased down the loose ball and, from right where he was, chucked a 3-pointer. Drilled it from about 30 feet.

It was that kind of night for the Warriors. Everything they threw up seemed to go in, leading to a 120-100 win over the Washington Wizards, ending a two-game losing streak and ending the five-game road trip on a positive not. Golden State shot 54.2 percent from the field, even made 15 from behind the arc, one off the season-high.

“We made shots, that’s the biggest thing,” Warriors guard Monta Ellis said after totaling 25 points with eight assists. “Wish they could’ve come a little bit earlier. … It was one of those nights when the basketball was big for everyone.”

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Warriors coach Mark Jackson said the change in the starting lineup at center is permanent – Ekpe Udoh is the starter. That is, “unless he completely falls off the map.”

Udoh will start his second consecutive game Monday night at Washington. That means Andris Biedrins, who started 90 percent of the games he’s played the last six seasons, is now a DubStitute. But Jackson said that doesn’t mean he’s giving up on Biedrins.

“He can rebound. He can defend. So I don’t think it’s a last straw,”Jackson said. “When you’re a big man who can do those things, you can help a team. We’re just trying to push buttons to get him to where he used to be.”

Biedrins is apparently taking the move in stride. Jackson said he had a good practice after learning he was demoted (which means Jackson made the decision after the Philadelphia game). Monday night before the game, he was joking when discussing the move.

“I’ve got a big chip on my shoulder,” Biedrins said with a smile. “You see it?”

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Game story for tomorrow’s paper

TORONTO– Sunday’s performance by the Warriors was especially offensive – just not in the manner they needed.

No doubt, many were offended by Golden State’s abysmal offense in an 83-75 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Including some in the Warriors’ locker room.

“This one hurts,” rookie swingman Klay Thompson said. “This was a winnable game. … We’re better than them.”

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Warriors point guard Stephen Curry did not participate fully in practice. He just did some rehabilitation work and took a bunch of shots. Of course, Curry has taken plenty shots at the Raptors practice facility before.

Curry and his brother, Seth (now playing for Duke), practically lived on the Raptors’ practice court in his younger days. Their father, Dell, was a sharp-shooting forward for Toronto, where he spent the last three of his 16 seasons.

MARK JACKSON: “I remember out-shooting Steph in this gym. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.”

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Warriors point guard Stephen Curry still cannot plant-and-pivot without pain and therefore is officially out for Friday night’s game at Philadelphia.

Curry won’t play until his right foot is completely healed. He will test it out again before Sunday’s game at Toronto. At that point, he will have had 10 days of rest since spraining the deltoid ligament in his right foot.

As was the case last game, Curry will be available for spot duty. Wednesday at Atlanta, he served as a decoy for a three-second stint, spreading the floor for David Lee to convert the game-winning basket.  But Mark Jackson cautioned that Curry is not just a decoy in those situations.

MARK JACKSON: “He can make a shot. I double dog dare you to leave him open.”