Crack

The Warriors began their first multi-game trip of the season Sunday without starting point guard Nick Van Exel.

Tenderness in Van Exel's left knee kept him out of uniform against the Sacramento Kings. He hopes to play Tuesday in San Antonio.

``I don't like sitting down too long,'' Van Exel said. ``Hopefully, I can get it a little bit better by Tuesday.''

Van Exel returned 16 days after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on the knee Oct. 20. Now he wonders if he came back too soon.

Last season, Van Exel needed only 19 days to recover after u...