Warriors beat:
Rookie Bell will miss another two weeks.
Warriors forward Jordan
Bell will miss another two weeks with a swollen left ankle, Golden State announced Friday.
Bell, who was evaluated this week by team doctors, will be sidelined for the Warriors’ next seven games, taking him through NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles (Feb. 15-18).
Twenty-four seconds into Golden State’s Jan. 17 win over the Bulls, Bell landed awkwardly after trying unsuccessfully to block a Robin
Lopez dunk. Bell was on the floor for more than a minute, grabbing his left ankle and grimacing, as teammates surrounded him and a team trainer tended to him.
Bell tried to walk off the court on his own power, but was in enough pain that he needed to be rolled to the visiting locker room in a wheelchair. X-rays were negative. By practice two days later, Bell wasn’t wearing a boot and had no crutches.
Bell is averaging 5.2 points, four rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 37 games in his rookie season.
With Bell sidelined the past six games, the Warriors have relied more on Kevon Looney, JaVale McGee, David West and Zaza Pachulia in their frontcourt.
Panda’s bike: The Warriors are buying Rong Niu — the popular halftime performer known as Red Panda — a custom-made, $25,000 unicycle to replace the one stolen from San Francisco’s airport.
“The Red Panda is legendary and absolutely loved and adored by everyone, especially our fans and season-ticket holders,” Warriors president
Rick Welts said in a statement posted to Instagram. “She’s been a staple at Warriors games for many years, and we need for that to continue in the future.
“What better way to put her in position to succeed than with a new, custom made unicycle? We look forward to her next appearance at Oracle Arena, and are glad that we could do our small part to help this great tradition continue.”
Last month, the custom unicycle Niu had used for almost three decades was stolen from San Francisco International Airport. Police released surveillance photos of a man wheeling away black bags containing the unicycle. Niu’s agent, Pat Figley, offered a $2,000 reward for its return.
In her halftime show, Niu steers her unicycle with one foot while tossing bowls with the other foot, stacking them on her head. She has been using a backup unicycle since her primary one was stolen, but is appreciative that Golden State is giving her a new one.
“It’s incredible that they’re doing that,” Figley told ESPN.com. “Their generosity is amazing. It just blew me away. And it lifted her spirits.”
West absence: After sitting out Friday’s game against Sacramento, center David West will miss Saturday’s game in Denver to attend the funeral of his close friend and former teammate, Rasual Butler, who was killed in a car accident Wednesday in Los Angeles. Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.