Back Soreness Forces Kristaps Porzingis Out of Warriors’ Road Game in Detroit
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Golden State center Kristaps Porzingis left Friday night’s matchup against the Pistons in Detroit with lower-back soreness, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater. The Warriors listed the 30-year-old veteran as questionable to return, but he did not reappear on the bench when the second half began after slowly heading to the locker room late in the second quarter.
Porzingis produced five points, three rebounds and two blocks in 11 first-half minutes before exiting. At the time of the report, Golden State was down 22 points with a little more than eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, continuing a rough stretch in which the club has dropped six of its last seven contests and eight of its past 10.
The setback adds to a string of health issues that have hindered Porzingis over the past two seasons. He recently said he felt increasingly fit after missing several games with an illness, but another absence now appears possible. Entering Friday, the 7-foot-3 center had played 23 games this season between Atlanta and Golden State, averaging 17.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 blocks in 23.7 minutes while shooting 45.1 percent from the field, 34.2 percent from three and 82.5 percent at the line.
In a separate injury update, fifth-year wing Moses Moody said his sprained right wrist is improving. Moody told reporters Friday morning that he has completed several high-intensity workouts and is now “shooting threes and all,” though the wrist remains taped and still causes some pain. The former lottery pick expects to return “pretty soon.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
