Biedrins evaluated, says he's made some progress

Warriors center Andris Biedrins is at least halfway through an injury that takes up to six weeks to heal, the Warriors announced Monday.

Biedrins, who has missed the past 11 games and 12 of the past 13 with strained groin and abdominal muscles, was evaluated before the game. He said he feels better and is making progress.

Also Monday, for the first time, the Warriors gave an indication how long Biedrins will be out. A team official said Biedrins' injury is referred to as "osteitis pubis" and that, according to head trainer Tom Abdenour, it's usually a four-to-six week injury. Biedrins is three weeks into that spell.

The team will evaluate Biedrins again before it leaves Sunday for a five-game road trip.

  • The Warriors ordinarily would be down another center, but Mikki Moore is refusing to leave his team hanging.

    Moore said he's got a bone spur on his right heel digging into his Achilles tendon. He said he's going to have an MRI and that the initial thought is it requires surgery to fix the problem. But Moore said he's not going to have the surgery.

    "I can't do my guys like that," Moore said.

    Moore said the injury has bothered him since last season. He could decide to have the surgery once the Warriors get back their centers. Ronny Turiaf (knee strain) already has returned to action but is easing back into

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    the flow.

    Moore said it isn't the pain he's worried about, though he said it's significant. His concern is that he is limited in what he can do. He said he can't explode off his feet, which affects his rebounding and shot blocking. It hasn't hurt his shot, however. He knocked down a midrange jumper to open the scoring against Indiana. Coming into the game, he'd made 20 of his previous 30 field-goal tries, mostly midrange jumpers.

  • The Warriors announced their Hardwood Classics schedule. The Warriors won't be wearing the popular "City" uniforms. Instead, they will don the uniforms from the 1962-63 season, the franchise's first on the West Coast. Then, they were called the San Francisco Warriors and played at the Cow Palace. The uniforms are yellow with blue and red trim and "San Francisco" plainly across the front of the jersey. The Warriors will wear the uniforms nine times, starting with Thursday's game vs. Houston. For more information about the ticket package connected with these games, go to www.warriors.com.

  • Forward Devean George (surgically repaired right knee) said he can return any day now. He's had two full practices and has reported no setbacks

    "I just want to come in and bring energy," George said. "We're a young team, so there's no reason we should lack energy."

  • With five steals Monday, guard Monta Ellis passed Boston guard Rajon Rondo for the league lead in steals. Ellis is now averaging 2.56 steals per game. He's averaging 3.8 steals his last five games.

  • Pacers guard Mike Dunleavy, who started his career with the Warriors, had 22 points on 7-for-14 shooting. Forward Troy Murphy, also a former Warrior, finished with four points on 1-of-7 shooting with 10 rebounds and four assists.

    — MARCUS THOMPSON II