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Jordan Bell returns to practice, nearing return from ankle injury [report]

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The Golden State Warriors have been without their center Jordan Bell for the last five weeks due to an ankle injury, but NBC Sports’ Monte Poole is reporting that their rookie sensation not only participated in a full-contact practice on Wednesday, but could return as early as Saturday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Oracle Arena.

Although Steve Kerr said during yesterday’s practice that Bell “looked good,” the 23-year-old center remains unavailable for Thursday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Unlike his first dramatic performance against the Chicago Bulls, who drafted him in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft and later that same day traded him to the Warriors for $3.5 million, Bell played for less than 30 seconds against his former team on January 17 before suffering an ankle injury while trying to block a dunk.

Before that, Bell was averaging 5.1 points, 1.1 block, and 3.9 rebounds in roughly 14 minutes per game. For a team that’s already won two NBA titles over the last three years, Bell’s fiery style of play was a spark plug for the Warriors throughout the first half.