Bell, Casspi to Start in Absence of All-Stars

OAKLAND -- The massive task of replacing All-Star forwards Kevin Durant and Draymond Green in the Warriors lineup Friday night against the Bulls falls to veteran Omri Casspi and rookie Jordan Bell.

It's the first career start for Bell, who was a healthy scratch in each of the last three games. He will be facing the team that drafted him last June specifically to sell his rights to the Warriors for $3.5 million.

"I've been wanting to get him active and play him anyway," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said prior to tipoff. "But with Draymond out, to me, it's a pretty easy choice."

Bell indicated he would not be particularly motivated against the team that drafted him, adding that he won't be seeking any sort of vindication.

"They made it clear that they didn't want me, so I don't take it to heart," Bell said after shootaround Friday morning. "They didn't draft me and sell me. They just drafted me for the Warriors."

Though Durant is out to rest his left ankle, sprained last Saturday in Philadelphia, Green simply has been given the night off. Kerr indicated there will be other occasions for which he will rest Green.

Durant missed only one game last week but returned Wednesday at Oklahoma City. His ankle did not respond well in the wake of that game, so he gets another day off.

Casspi replaced Durant in the starting lineup last Sunday at Brooklyn, producing 12 points, eight rebounds and two blocks over 23 minutes.

This is the first absence of the season for Green. It won't be the last, as Kerr plans to rest all starters at various points of the season.

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