Speights started at center Thursday night and scored 11 points with one rebound and one steal in a loss to the Clippers.

Speights got the call to start with both Festus Ezeli (ankle) and Andrew Bogut (knee) out indefinitely. His emergence as a viable option in the rotation this year is a big boost to head coach Steve Kerr, who's had to coach around injuries to his big men. In 2013-14, Speights was a big bust and of no use to then head coach Mark Jackson.

Speights will make a spot start at center Thurday, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

With Andrew Bogut (knee) and Festus Ezeli (illness) out, Spieights is being pushed into the starting lineup. David Lee shoul help use up some of the minutes, but Speights should see a lot of action.

Speights scored 18 points (7-of-14 FG, 4-of-4 FT) with eight rebounds and two blocks in 26 minutes off the bench in Tuesday night's loss to the Grizzlies.

Speights has developed into a valuable piece off the Warriors' bench and is getting a bit more run of late with the injury to Andrew Bogut (knee). On some nights with the extra minutes, when his shot is falling, Speights can be a big boost to a fantasy lineup. Things could change when both Bogut and David Lee (hamstring) are healthy, but for now, Speights is a viable fantasy player.

Speights scored 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting in 20 minutes in Saturday night's win over the Bulls. It was the sixth consecutive double-digit scoring night off the bench, while averaging a little more than 13 shots per game during that stretch.

Speights scored six straight points to open the fourth quarter and give Golden State the lead for good. His shooting has taken a dip of late, 18-of-48 (37.5 percent) over the last four, down from the 62-percent mark he posted during a nine-game run that put him on the fantasy radar, but he's become the reserve unit's go-to scorer. He's averaging 12.3 points and 9.4 field-goal attempts in just 16.1 minutes per game.

Speights scored 11 points with a team-high 12 rebounds in Sunday's win over Detroit. It was his first double-double of the season.

Speights continues his fine play, which has him on the radar for Sixth Man of the Year.

Speights scored a team-high 27 points (12-of-20 FG, 3-of-3 FT) with five rebounds, two assists, one steal and one blocked shot in 24 minutes in Friday night's win over the Hornets.

Golden State trailed entering the fourth quarter when Speights put the team on his back, scoring 16 of his 27 points. The resurgent big man is averaging 17.9 points on 59 percent shooting over the past eight games. He's presenting head coach Steve Kerr a tricky playing-time problem to solve when David Lee (hamstring) returns from an injury.

Speights scored eight points (4-of-5 FG) in 15 minutes in Tuesday night's win over the Heat. This ended a four-game stretch of double-digit scoring.

Speights (25 minutes, 28 points) had filled in well when Andrew Bogut (orbital contusion) left Golden State's previous game early, but Bogut was able to go Tuesday. Despite having his double-digit scoring streak end, Speights continued to shoot well and is positioned a role in the rotation. Looking ahead, the return of David Lee will reduce Speights' minutes.

Speights could see an increase in minutes if Andrew Bogut (orbital contusion) is unavailable for Tuesday night's game against the Heat, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Speights, who was relegated to a minor role off the bench to start the season, has emerged as the top backup big man thanks to his significant scoring contributions the last two weeks. He's not the defender or the offensive initiator that Bogut is, but Speights is an inside scoring threat that can open up the outside for the Warriors' perimeter threats like Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry.

Speights matched his second-highest career point total of 28 points (11-18 FG, 6-9FT), to go along with seven rebounds and two assists.

Coming into tonight, Speights had been averaging 17 points over the last three games, shooting 64% from the field. It seems as though Speights has found the perfect niche off the bench for the Warriors, and is thriving in his role. He didn't even attempt a 3 against the Thunder tonight, but let's not forget that is just an added dimension to Speights' game. Owners looking for a productive big man who has the ability to shoot from deep may have found their solution.

Speights scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting in 16 minutes in Friday night's win over the Jazz. It was third straight double-digit scoring effort and fourth in the previous five games.

Speights has put a firm grip on the backup center/power forward spot after a five-game stretch in which he's been active and shot a blistering 69 percent (27-for-39). Alas, there's word of David Lee's impending return from a hamstring injury -- perhaps sometime during Golden State's five-game road trip that begins this coming week -- and we have to wonder how that impacts Speights' playing time.

Speights has become the Warriors' backup center, moving ahead of Festus Ezeli, the San Jose Mercury News reports. "He's earned that backup role, and he's going to play a lot for us," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

Kerr was talking about Speights after the big man's 24-point night in 20 minutes against the Lakers on Sunday. The game was a blowout and not really indicative of Speights' normal activity in a game, but he's been on a roll of late. Kerr has been particularly impressed with Speights' defense, something for which he's not typically known.

Speights scored a season-high 24 points (8-of-11 FG, 8-of-8 FT) in 20 minutes in Sunday night's win over the Lakers.

This game was over early -- Golden State held a 36-point lead after three quarters -- so it's not indicative of Speights' usual role. However, the big man has been very productive over the last four games, not all of them blowouts. He's averaging 14 points on 70 percent shooting (21-of-30) with 8.5 rebounds per game over that run.

Speights scored eight points (4-of-6 FG) with nine rebounds, one steal and three blocked shots in 16 minutes in Thursday night's win over Brooklyn.

The injury to David Lee (hamstring) has forced head coach Steve Kerr to bring Speights off the bench and sometimes that results in unexpected production. Over the past two games, Speights has scored 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting with 11 rebounds and four blocks in 28 minutes. There's a very good likelihood that Speights is available in many fantasy leagues, and there's a reason for that. He's had some good spells in his season-plus with Golden State, but they haven't been lasting.

Speights played just five minutes in Saturday night's win over the Lakers. He scored two points with three rebounds.

Speights was an unexpected lift and a source of offense in the season-opening win over the Kings -- he scored 16 points in 18 minutes -- but with Andrew Bogut feeling better Saturday, it was back to a normal allotment of playing time for Speights.

Speights scored 16 points (8-of-13 FG) off the bench in Wednesday night's 95-77 win over Sacramento. He added five rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes.

Speights was in the right place at the right time. Golden State was without David Lee (hamstring) and Andrew Bogut was dealing with an illness, so head coach Steve Kerr needed Speights' size. Credit Speights for taking advantage of the situation, but we'd like to see how he's used when all hands are healthy before making a free-agent grab.

Speights enters the regular season as the third-string power forward, CSN Bay Area reports.

Speights reported to camp in better shape this season, but he doesn't appear to be a good fit for the new movement-based offense installed by head coach Steve Kerr. He's not an adept passer and is better as a spot-up shooter.

Speights did not play in Friday night's preseason finale.

As head coach Steve Kerr went with the tightest rotation we've seen all preseason, this is the clearest sign that Speights does not have a big role on this team as it enters the regular season. Things may change and injuries can happen, but it looks like the bulk of the backup power forward minutes will be going to Draymond Green (21 minutes Friday) this season.

Speights returned to the Warriors after missing one preseason game for personal reasons. He played 13 minutes, scoring four points with five rebounds in a loss to the Rockets.

Head coach Steve Kerr rested several key players, including first-quarter-only minutes for frontcourt mainstays Andrew Bogut and David Lee, so there was playing time available for Speights and rest of of the bench.

Speights (personal) has rejoined the Warriors in Texas and will be available for Sunday's preseason game against the Rockets, The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Speights momentarily left the Warriors to attend his grandfather's funeral, but should be available in full capacity moving forward.

Speights is not with the Warriors after heading home to be with family for the death of his grandfather, CSN Bay Area reports.

Speights was not available to play Friday night against Miami.