DETROIT — Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis left Friday night’s 114-103 loss to the Detroit Pistons after experiencing lower back spasms and said he will “probably” miss Saturday’s game in Atlanta, where the Warriors face the Hawks team that dealt him away last month.
The 30-year-old first noticed tightness in the opening quarter, but the discomfort intensified late in the second quarter following two physical possessions against Pistons forward Jalen Duren. Moments later, Porzingis leaped for an errant outlet pass with Duren on his back, landed awkwardly and immediately grabbed his lower back. He signaled to the bench, walked carefully to the locker room with trainer Drew Yoder and was ruled out at halftime.
“When I was warm, I was OK,” Porzingis said after the game. “But on that one play I felt a little spasm. Maybe it loosens up tomorrow, who knows? Right now it’s pretty stiff.”
Porzingis had recently cleared an illness and appeared in six of the previous eight contests, working his way up to a 26-minute limit. He posted scoring totals of 11, 17, 20 and 30 points over the last four games and estimated Wednesday in Boston that he was at “60 percent” of his usual form, believing a few more outings would restore full rhythm.
Golden State, now 33-37, has dropped seven of its past eight games and committed a season-high 27 turnovers Friday. Head coach Steve Kerr did not provide a timetable for Porzingis’ return.
The Latvian big man said he is familiar with similar back issues from early in his career and feels confident he can manage the current flare-up. “I’m pretty good at keeping my back strong,” he noted. “It’s a little tight now, and once I cool down it’ll tighten up more.”
Saturday’s matchup in Atlanta carries added intrigue. The Hawks sent Porzingis to the Warriors on Feb. 5 in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield. Kuminga, dealing with a bone bruise in his knee, missed Atlanta’s loss in Houston on Friday but is expected to be available against Golden State.
Source: ESPN
