Warriors dress league minimum eight players vs. Cavs

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Playing against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers is a tough assignment anytime.

For Golden State, the task was even tougher Tuesday night.

The Warriors, ravaged by injuries and illness, dressed the league minimum eight players against the Cavaliers, including newly acquired guard Raja Bell, who is expected to have wrist surgery next week. Bell and Vladimir Radmanovic were acquired from Charlotte on Monday for Stephen Jackson and Acie Law.

Warriors coach Don Nelson said Bell only would be used in an emergency.

In addition to Bell and Radmanovic, who started his first game with his new team, Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry, Mikki Moore, Anthony Morrow, Anthony Randolph and Corey Maggette also dressed.

Bell was hoping to play through the injury, but came to the conclusion surgery was necessary. He will see a doctor Monday in Charlotte and could be sidelined for four or five months.

"The X-rays showed a tear," Bell said. "They don't know exactly how severe it is. I'm hoping they miraculously tell me I'll only be out for a month. I'll prepare myself for the four months and if it's anything less than that, I'd consider it a blessing."

Bell appeared in five games with the Bobcats, averaging 12 points.

"I was able to shoot and do perimeter things fine, but anytime it got into close quarters, my game requires me to grab and push and do some of the unsavory things," Bell said. "I'm not able to do those things very well. In my opinion, that's why teams would want me. If I can't do it, I should go ahead and get it fixed."

Nelson knew it was possible Bell would need surgery before the trade was made.

"I think it's a good thing," Nelson said. "If it's a short period of time, like four weeks or five weeks, it was well worth it. If he needs more than that it will be harder, but I still think it's good to get it taken care of."

Forward Kelenna Azubuike will have surgery Wednesday for a torn patellar tendon in his left knee and is out for the rest of the season. Guard C.J. Watson is out after testing positive for the H1N1 virus. Forward Ronny Turiaf, who is out with a sprained left knee, is with the team but didn't dress.

The Warriors play in Boston on Wednesday night.