Warriors general manager Larry Riley said point guard Stephen Curry is likely done for the season.

Curry’s sprained right ankle, which has kept him out of the lineup the last 22 games, was re-evaluated Monday night. Riley said Curry’s ankle, though it is showing signs of progress, still isn’t 100 percent.

“It doesn’t appear he’ll get there by this (coming road) trip,” Riley said. “So it’s doubtful he’ll return this season.”

The three-game road trip, which starts Friday inDallas, was Curry’s last chance to play a meaningful stretch of games this season. Even if Curry were 100 percent when the team returned from the trip, Riley said he sees “no point” in playing Curry for just the final two games of the season.

“He still wants to play,” Riley said, “but he understands he’s not 100 percent.”

The Warriors just announced the signing of free agent center Mikki Moore. He was averaging 11 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Idaho Stampede in the D-League.

You may remember the 7-footer from the 2009-10 season when he played with the Warriors. He started 20 of his 23 games, averaging 5.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 17.7 minutes. He was pretty good for the Warriors, too, before surgery to remove bone spurs in his right heel shut him down for the season.

Moore will wear No. 31 and be in uniform for the team’s home game tonight against the San Antonio Spurs.

Nate Robinson had 28 points, 8 assists and five rebounds. Brandon Rush has 22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Dominic McGuire didn’t score, but had 11 rebounds and five assists and helped turn the game around.

Thanks to the trip off the bench, the undermanned Warriors put a scare into the host Los Angeles Clippers, eventually falling 112-104.

The Warriors played without forward David Lee, knocked out of the lineup by a strained groin. Golden State didn’t get much from rookie Jeremy Tyler or center Andris Biedrins, who combined for 4 points, 2 rebounds and 8 fouls in a combined 35 minutes. Yet, the Warriors were able to come behind from 19 down to make a game of it,

JACKSON: “We realize that we can’t win a checkers match right now. We’re not good enough. We have to stick to the game plan, work extremely hard and execute on both sides of the basketball. And we did that. Great things happen.”

Chris Paul scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 28 points, 13 assists and 3 steals. Blake Griffin had 20 points and 9 rebounds as the Clippers pounded the Warriors inside. Golden State was outrebounded.

But the Warriors stayed close with grit and 3-point shooting, knocking down 15 of 31 from behind the arc. Klay Thompson, who had 24 points, knocked down four 3-pointers. As did Dorell Wright, who had 23 points.

The Warriors’ bench, however, was the real difference maker. Golden State got 52 points, 25 rebounds and 17 assists from the reserves, most of which came from Robinson, Rush and McGuire.

JACKSON: “Those guys, they’ve been awesome all year long, particularly when we’ve been shorthanded. They’ve stepped up. Every night it doesn’t show on the stat sheet when you look at the numbers. But their body of work, their total effort, their approach, their professionalism. those are winning guys. their approach is contagious. I’m really happy for them getting the opportunity … Those guys were home, some of them, without a job. I don’t think that’s going to be the case anymore.”

Thursday, amid the commercial bustle of Dublin, Andrew Bogut and I stopped in Starbucks. The barista behind the counter marveled at the height of Golden State’s 7-foot, 245-pound center.

“How tall are you?” she asked.

“Eight feet.”

“Woooow,” she said, continuing to stare in amazement. “You’re like two of me.”

Over comes another barista, also enamored by Bogut’s size. He offers up the cliche small talk directed at tall humans.

“You should play basketball,” he said. “I know you’ve heard that before. … You ever play? You any good?”

“Naahh, not really,” Bogut responded.

Bogut is not at all above a joke or two. Another thing I learned from lunch with Golden State’s franchise center: he shoots it straight, he really knows basketball and he is not lacking in confidence. In between chomps at a burrito, he talked about defense, abusing then-Knick David Lee and getting dunked on by Blake Griffin.

Where do you rank?

I think Dwight’s No. 1. I think Bynum’s obviously taken over No. 2. For a while, it was me and Bynym, but I think Bynum’s solidified the NO. 2.

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It’s a long shot. He would probably have to take less money and turn down a chance to be on a contender. But the Warriors have an eye for Lamar Odom to fill out their starting lineup next season. File it under the would-be-nice list (Not exactly on the what-are-you-smoking list that was once topped by Dwight Howard hopes).

The Warriors have four spots in their starting lineup, on paper, set for next season. Stephen Curry is the point guard. Klay Thompson is the shooting guard. David Lee is the power forward and Andrew Bogut is the center. It would take something major for those four not to be starters next season. That leaves the small forward position as the only place in the starting lineup semi-available for upgrading. Lamar Odom would be an upgrade of the current quartet of Dorell Wright, Dominic McGuire, Richard Jefferson and Brandon Rush. Mostly because Odom provides what they don’t. Even with this atrocious season he’s had, Odom’s career averages are 14.6 points on 46.5 percent shooting with 8.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists.

The Warriors would loooooooooove that kind of production at small forward. Multiple team sources told me Odom would be a good fit. He’s someone on their radar.

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Admittedly, it sounds a little ridiculous. Who would fire a coach one year into a three-year contract – after they doomed his chances in his first year by trading away his best player.

But, for a team struggling to get 25 wins, nobody is 100 percent secure. Not to mention a couple headliner head coaches may become available, which might make the Warriors want to nab one while they can.

Nonetheless, I’ve assured by a couple team sources that Mark Jackson is safe – as safe as could be expected anyway. They won’t say that publicly – Joe Lacob, who would play the role of Donald Trump should Jackson be fired, offered only a no comment. Still, it’s understood among management that Jackson will be back and Golden State executives like the job he is doing. Someone high up will say as much at season’s end.

That doesn’t mean if someone like Eric Spoelstra became available, the Warriors wouldn’t go exploring. But it would take something of that magnitude to end Jackson’s tenure. And that may not be enough.

If the Santa Cruz City Council approves the funding of a 3,200-seat temporary facility downtown, the Warriors NBA Development League team will move to Santa Cruz for next season.

The council will officially be introduced to the project on April 10.  If it approves, the council will submit a final proposal to the Warriors and the NBA.

The plans call for Santa Cruz would loan the estimates $2.5 million cost of the project. The Warriors  would provide $500,000 in basketball-related equipment and guarantee half of the loan, which is expected to be paid back in full through revenue from the D-League team.

If City Council approves, the facility is expected to be ready in time for the start of the 2012-13 D-League season. The Warriors would sign a five-year lease and begin looking into a new, permanent arena.

 If the project is not approved, the Warriors will stay in Bismark, N.D., until they find other options.

Not only would the Warriors’ have a D-League squad closer to the NBA franchise, allowing local fans to see developing youngsters such as Jeremy Tyler and Chris Wright. But Golden State would also be willing to play a preseason game in Santa Cruz.
 
Why Santa Cruz, you wonder? When the Warriors first acquired the Wizards, talk was of them moving to San Jose. But Santa Cruz provides a unique opportunity.

• Santa Cruz can support a D-League franchise – and judging by attendance of local hoops, likely would

• There is nothing else to do in Santa Cruz during winter months

• No similar venue exists, which means Santa Cruz could become a location for other events, such as concerts 

Join Marcus Thompson II for some Warriors talk during the first quarter of Golden State’s game at Minnesota, beginning at 5 p.m.

Game story from tomorrow’s paper

If Sunday’s 120-112 loss to the host Los Angeles Lakers showed anything, it’s that Warriors players aren’t interested in tanking.

With Golden State’s first-round draft pick hanging in the balance, many Warriors fans are hoping their team loses games. Their team is no doubt obliging, having now lost five straight and 10 of its last 12.

But Jackson is happy to report it’s not because they’re tanking.

“It’s important for us in the locker room to leave that outside the locker room,” Jackson said. “Leave it off the court. It has nothing to do with us. … . Their thought process shouldn’t be draft choice and tanking games.”

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