In an effort to get more playing time for younger players, Warriors coach Don Nelson instructed one of his starters -- guard Jamal Crawford -- not to suit up for Friday's game against the Bobcats.

So, the ex-Knick dressed in a suit and watched from courtside. C.J. Watson started in his place.

Crawford insisted he understood the thinking, but his agent, Aaron Goodwin, was not happy about it at all.

"What message is Don Nelson sending to his team -- that he does not care about winning?" Goodwin complained to The Oakland Tribune. "You would think, in this day and time when fans work hard to pay for these tickets, that the coach would field the best possible team."

Not Nelson. Six days after recording a milestone 1,300th win, he said evaluating his personnel at this point in a losing season is more important than seeing his usual cast play for the 58th time.

The second-winningest coach in NBA history insisted it's nothing personal. He plans to do it with other front-line players in future games, starting with Stephen Jackson against the Jazz on Sunday night.

Crawford, who scored 50 points against the Bobcats in an earlier meeting this season in Charlotte, backed his coach 100 percent.

"I'm a professional," he said. "I'm not trying to cause a stir. I'm going to do whatever Coach thinks is best for the team."

The Warriors already were without Crawford's backcourt mate, Monta Ellis, who is resting a sore ankle. Marco Belinelli joined Watson in the starting backcourt.

BOBCATS 112, WARRIORS 109: The Warriors have lost a handful of close games at home the past six weeks, but nothing compared to the ending of Friday's thriller. Up one with 20 seconds left, the Warriors caught a break when Emeka Okafor missed the first of two free throws. When he made the second, tying the score, it appeared Golden State would get the final shot of regulation. Shockingly, however, Boris Diaw, not realizing the Bobcats had tied the game, intentionally fouled Stephen Jackson to stop the clock. Jackson's two free throws with 18.8 seconds remaining put the Warriors in position to record what might have been termed a lucky victory. But then the Bobcats, without use of a timeout, worked the ball around until -- of all people -- Diaw buried a three-pointer with 2.9 seconds left, effectively turning a bonehead play into a brilliant ploy that gave the visitors a chance to win.

Raymond Felton's two free throws after a botched inbounds play by the Warriors sealed the victory.