Vince Carter limped off the court for good with a muscle strain in his back with 10:20 remaining in the third quarter. And without their leading scorer, the Nets lost the first game of their five-game trip out West, 100-97, to the Warriors last night.

Carter actually injured himself in the first half and left the game before trying to play through the pain in the third quarter. His status for tomorrow's game at Sacramento is unknown.

"I don't know nothing," Carter said after huddling for several minutes with Lawrence Frank and trainer Tim Walsh. "I hurt it on a tip-in (in the first half). Two plays later I felt it."

Wincing in pain and limping around the court, Carter waved to the Nets' bench to ask out. He still was able to drill a three-pointer before the Nets were able to call a timeout and get their star off the court.

Carter (nine points) was escorted by Walsh to the locker room with 2:02 remaining in the half.