UPDATE: Kristaps Porzingis made a splash in his debut for the Golden State Warriors on February 2, 2023, despite a 121-110 loss against the Boston Celtics. This matchup marked his first game since January 7, when he played for the Atlanta Hawks, and only his 18th game this season.
Porzingis, limited to 17 minutes off the bench, opened slowly, missing his initial two shots as the Celtics unleashed a furious offensive onslaught. The Warriors struggled, trailing by 32 points at one point, and were outscored 38-19 in the second quarter alone.
“Boston was incredible,”
said Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
“They’re having an amazing season. They’re a machine right now.”
Yet, a shift occurred when Porzingis returned late in the third quarter. He contributed significantly, hitting two long three-pointers and posting a total of 12 points, helping the Warriors cut the deficit and outscore the Celtics by 15 points in the second half. Kerr noted,
“He just looked more comfortable and settled in.”
Porzingis expressed eagerness to increase his playing time, stating,
“Even tonight, I would’ve liked to go longer. Even if I’m exhausted out there, I still want to push myself.”
The Warriors face the Denver Nuggets next on Sunday, February 5, at 12:30 p.m. PT, as they grapple with the absence of key players like Jimmy Butler, who is out for the season with a torn ACL, and Stephen Curry, sidelined due to a persistent knee issue.
Currently, the Warriors sit at 29-27 and are in dire need of Porzingis to find his footing quickly. “I felt all right,” he said. “Far from being in perfect shape. But I think for first game back after a while, getting some energy back, I’m feeling good.”
With the pressure mounting for the Warriors to reclaim their rhythm, all eyes will be on Porzingis as he aims to boost the team’s offensive capabilities in the upcoming games.
