Kristaps Porzingis scores 12 points in limited Warriors debut
porzingis-scores-12-in-limited-warriors-debut
Kristaps Porzingis returned to NBA action Thursday night, posting 12 points in 17 minutes during his first appearance with the Golden State Warriors, a 121-110 home loss to the Boston Celtics in San Francisco.
The 7-foot-3 forward had not played since Jan. 7, when he was still with the Atlanta Hawks. Traded to Golden State near last month’s deadline, Porzingis came off the bench for just his 18th game of the season. He missed his first two shots and finished the opening half at minus-19 as Boston built a 38-19 second-quarter edge and led by 32 late in the third.
Porzingis sparked a brief surge after reentering, drilling two deep three-pointers and scoring on a pair of post-ups. Golden State outscored Boston by 15 while he was on the floor in the second half, trimming the deficit to 11 before the Celtics closed out the win.
Jaylen Brown powered Boston with 23 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists. “They’re a machine right now,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “Boston was incredible.” Kerr added that Porzingis “looked more comfortable and settled in” as the night progressed.
Porzingis said he hopes to increase his workload quickly. “Even tonight, I would’ve liked to go longer,” he said. “I still want to push myself, but I know I have to take it step by step—add a couple minutes next game hopefully.”
The Warriors, now 29-27, visit the Denver Nuggets on Sunday afternoon (12:30 p.m. PT, ABC). They remain without Jimmy Butler, sidelined for the season by a torn ACL, and Stephen Curry, out at least four more games with a right knee issue.
“Far from being in perfect shape,” Porzingis noted, “but for a first game back after a while, getting some energy back, I’m feeling good.”
Source: ESPN
