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Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors
Kristaps Porziņģis provided clarity on his status after exiting the Golden State Warriors’ 115-101 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Friday night, revealing that lower back spasms were the cause of his early departure.
Porziņģis left the game in the second quarter and did not return, finishing with five points on 1-of-5 shooting, along with three rebounds and two blocks in 11 minutes.
“I kind of felt it in the first quarter, started spasming up a bit, and I tried to move,” Porziņģis said after the loss. “And while I was warm, I was okay, but in that one play, I kind of felt a little spasm.”
The 7-foot-3 center said the issue developed gradually and worsened as the game progressed, ultimately forcing him to the locker room as Golden State struggled to keep pace.
Injury Puts Status for Hawks Game in Doubt
Porziņģis acknowledged that his availability for Saturday’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks is now uncertain.
“It’s a little tight now, a little tight now,” he said. “So also once I cool down and tighten up even more, but I’m gonna get goin on soon.”
According to Porziņģis, he will “probably” miss the game in Atlanta, as the Warriors take a cautious approach with the injury.
“Probably, we’ll see,” he said. “Maybe it loosens up tomorrow, but right now, it’s pretty stiff back.”
Despite the discomfort, he does not believe the issue is serious, suggesting it could be a short-term setback rather than a lingering concern.
Warriors’ Injury Woes Continue
Porziņģis’ exit added to an already challenging night for Golden State, which has been navigating multiple injuries during a difficult stretch of the season.
The Warriors have now lost seven of their last eight games and remain in 10th place in the Western Conference, trailing both the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers by one game for the No. 8 seed.
Golden State’s struggles were evident Friday, committing 26 turnovers that led to 32 points for Detroit.
Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 15 points, but the team never recovered after falling behind by double digits early.
Pistons Capitalize Behind Duren, Balanced Effort
Detroit took control of the game behind a strong performance from Jalen Duren, who scored 23 points to lead the Pistons.
Daniss Jenkins added 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, while Paul Reed chipped in 15 points as Detroit won its sixth game in the last seven.
The Pistons built a 57-50 halftime lead and extended it in the third quarter, taking advantage of Golden State’s turnovers and inconsistent shooting to push the margin to 24 points entering the fourth.
Porziņģis Says Back Issues Rare in Recent Years
While the latest injury raises concerns, Porziņģis said he has largely avoided back problems in recent seasons.
“Early in my career, a little bit,” he said. “But obviously, I’m pretty good at managing and keeping the back strong. So go away pretty quickly.”
The veteran big man has dealt with a range of injuries throughout his career, including an ACL tear that sidelined him for the entire 2018-19 season. More recently, he has battled illness-related absences and durability issues, appearing in just 42 games last season.
This season, Porziņģis has played 24 games, continuing a pattern of intermittent availability.
Frontcourt Adjustments Likely if Porziņģis Sits
If Porziņģis is unable to play Saturday, Golden State could turn to 10-day contract player Omer Yurtseven and second-year center Quinten Post to absorb additional minutes in the frontcourt.
The potential absence comes at a difficult time, with the Warriors attempting to stabilize their position in the play-in race.
Meanwhile, the Hawks present a different challenge, as Jonathan Kuminga — recently acquired from Golden State — has begun to find a rhythm in Atlanta’s rotation, averaging 14.8 points and 7.5 rebounds over his first six games.
Warriors Facing Urgent Stretch
With the regular season entering its final stretch, every game carries added importance for Golden State.
Porziņģis’ status will be a key factor as the Warriors look to snap their skid and remain within striking distance in the Western Conference standings.
For now, the focus remains on recovery and whether the back tightness proves to be a minor interruption or another setback in an already injury-impacted season.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo