<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Warriors guard Jason Richardson might miss tonight's game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. After Thursday's practice, in which he did not participate, he said his back was very sore. Richardson said he felt a pop after he got up off the court following a drive to the basket Wednesday against Dallas. He said the pain -- in the lower right part of his back -- was tolerable until he took his free throws. He missed the second attempt and guard Derek Fisher had to commit a foul to get Richardson out of the game. Richardson received treatment after the game. An MRI exam Thursday didn't reveal any tears. Richardson underwent further tests, including an X-ray, after practice. He is listed as questionable for tonight. If there is no chance for further injury, whether he plays will be up to Richardson, Coach Mike Montgomery said. ``If I'm 50 percent, I'm playing,'' said Richardson, who may have initially hurt his back Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers on a collision with Clippers forward Elton Brand. ``I don't sit out games unless I can't move.'' If Richardson doesn't go, Mickael Pietrus will start, Montgomery said. Pietrus said he looks forward to the task of trying to defend Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. Pietrus, who has been eager to play more and has said he will be a star in this league, will get his chance to stand out. Bryant is playing his first game since scoring 81 points Sunday. Pietrus said he doesn't profess to be the next ``Kobe Stopper,'' and he won't try to replace Richardson's 22.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game by himself. ``It's a great chance for me to really get tired, because I hope I'm going to play a lot of minutes,'' Pietrus said. ``I'm really going to try to be myself. I'm just going to go out there and try to minimize him. He's a legend.''</div> Source
