Warriors center Festus Ezeli could return Tuesday

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Festus Ezeli on Thursday got his most positive health update since June knee surgery sidelined him, with Warriors head coach Mark Jackson even leaving open the possibility of the second-year center returning for Game 5 on Tuesday.

Ezeli, who was originally expected to miss six to nine months after having his right posterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments reinforced, has been cleared for full contact in one-on-one drills and to run full court in five-on-zero situations.

He still needs to be cleared for contact in five-on-five sets before Jackson will consider playing Ezeli, but the coach hasn't ruled out any games after Sunday's Game 4.

"Right now, he's not going to play anytime soon, meaning (Thursday) or Sunday," said Jackson, who is already without starting center Andrew Bogut (rib). "We have to stay true to the process. We will be wise with how we handle him, and we will also listen to his body.

"What we don't want is to rush him back because we have a need. That's not fair to him, and it's not the right thing to do as an organization. We're going to let the process play out, and when he's ready to play, he'll play."

Good neighbor: Stephen Curry laughed off questions about State Farm's decision to release a TV advertisement starring him and Chris Paul at the start of the series between the Warriors and Clippers adding to the rivalry between the point guards.

"I don't know the whole decision-making process of when they released it, but I'm guessing it worked out pretty well for State Farm," said Curry, who filmed the commercial last summer. "That's got nothing to do with what's going on on the floor."

Getting chippy: With the Clippers extending a big lead in the third quarter, things got chippy on the court. It started with Paul throwing the ball off Andre Iguodala on an acrobatic save out of bounds. On the ensuing trip, Draymond Green was called for a flagrant foul on a flopping Blake Griffin. Then the Clippers picked up back-to-back backcourt fouls that gave the Warriors a little life in an otherwise dismal third quarter. It didn't come to blows, but it was clear that these teams never liked each other. And never will.

Golden State Warriors, Festus Ezeli (31) Jarrett Jack (2) and Stephen Curry (30) walk up court after a foul late into the 4th period in the second half of game 6 of the NBA western conference semi finals game with the San Antonio Spurs at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, May 16, 2013. Spurs won 94-82 less Golden State Warriors, Festus Ezeli (31) Jarrett Jack (2) and Stephen Curry (30) walk up court after a foul late into the 4th period in the second half of game 6 of the NBA western conference semi finals game ... more Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Warriors center Festus Ezeli could return Tuesday 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Chronicle Sports Editor Al Saracevic contributed to this report.