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Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors have officially ruled out Kristaps Porziņģis for Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks, according to the NBA’s injury report, after the veteran big man exited Friday’s loss with lower back tightness.
The designation confirms what Porziņģis suggested postgame following the Warriors’ 115-101 loss to the Detroit Pistons, when he indicated the injury could sideline him at least one game.
Porziņģis left in the second quarter on Friday and did not return, finishing with five points on 1-of-5 shooting, along with three rebounds and two blocks in 11 minutes.
The absence carries added significance, as it would have marked Porziņģis’ first game against the Hawks since they traded him for Jonathan Kuminga at the trade deadline.
Kristaps Porziņģis Details Back Spasms After Early Exit
Porziņģis said the issue developed early in the game and worsened as he tried to play through it.
“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 tightness increased as the game progressed, ultimately forcing him to the locker room.
“It’s a little tight now,” Porziņģis added after the game. “Once I cool down, it tightens up even more… right now, it’s pretty stiff back.”
He acknowledged at the time that he would “probably” miss the next game — a projection that was later confirmed by the official injury report.
Warriors Continue to Slide Amid Injuries
Porziņģis’ absence comes as the Warriors continue to navigate a difficult stretch.
Golden State has now lost seven of its last eight games and sits in 10th place in the Western Conference, trailing the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers by one game for the No. 8 seed.
Turnovers were a major issue in Friday’s loss, as the Warriors committed 26 giveaways that led to 32 points for Detroit.
Brandin Podziemski led Golden State with 15 points, but the team was unable to recover after falling behind early.
Pistons Capitalize Behind Jalen Duren’s Performance
Detroit controlled the game behind a strong showing from Jalen Duren, who scored 23 points.
Daniss Jenkins added 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, while Paul Reed contributed 15 points.
The Pistons built a 57-50 halftime lead and pulled away in the third quarter, extending the margin to 24 points entering the fourth.
Kristaps Porziņģis Downplays Severity of Injury
Despite being ruled out, Porziņģis indicated he does not believe the injury is serious.
“Early in my career, a little bit,” he said of past back issues. “But I’m pretty good at managing and keeping the back strong. So it goes away pretty quickly.”
Porziņģis has dealt with injuries throughout his career, including an ACL tear that cost him the entire 2018-19 season. He also played just 42 games last season and has appeared in 24 games this year.
Warriors Frontcourt Faces Adjustment Without Porziņģis
With Porziņģis unavailable, Golden State is expected to lean more on Omer Yurtseven to fill frontcourt minutes as Al Horford remains out with right soleus strain, while Quinten Post is questionable to play due to right foot injury management.
The matchup against Atlanta adds another layer, with Jonathan Kuminga — a former Warrior — emerging as a key contributor for the Hawks, averaging 14.8 points and 7.5 rebounds over his first six games with the team.
Warriors Face Critical Stretch in Play-In Race
With the regular season entering its final stretch, Golden State’s margin for error continues to shrink.
The absence of Porziņģis removes another key option as the team looks to stay within striking distance in the Western Conference standings.
The focus now shifts to recovery and whether the back spasms prove to be a short-term issue as the Warriors attempt to stabilize their position in the play-in race.
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
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