Kristaps Porzingis made his Warriors debut Thursday night, his first game since Jan. 7 after missing nearly a month with the Hawks before being dealt to Golden State at the trade deadline.
The Celtics gave Porzingis a tough welcome back to the floor, dominating the big man’s new team for the first three quarters in a 121-110 victory at Chase Center. It was Boston’s seventh win in its last eight games and the performance left a strong impression with Porzingis as he faced his former teammates for the first time.
“I think you have to give credit to Joe and the coaching staff,” Porzingis told reporters in San Francisco. “Joe is a great coach and great leader for them. To maintain that same culture and probably be even hungrier with less talent, you have to give credit to that for sure. JB is playing at a super high level, leading them. They are a good team even without JT and some of us that were there.
“They are still a good team and have young guys who are playing super hard. They crash the boards hard and have strong culture there already. I knew even without them having a full roster and all this, I knew they were going to be good. This is probably a little bit better than I expected to so hats off to them.”
Porzingis’s comments largely echoed his new coach’s high praise of Boston after leading by as many as 34 points in the road win.
“I thought Boston was incredible,” Kerr said. “They are having an amazing season and they are a machine right now. They’ve done such a good job. Their staff has done a hell of a job with Joe and the group. They’ve got the continuity, but given the departures and the injuries, it’s remarkable what they’ve done. They just put on a clinic those first three quarters.”
Porzingis only played 17 minutes in his Golden State debut as he tries to regain his conditioning after a lengthy absence. He’s only played in 18 games this year due to injury and illness.
“Even tonight, I would’ve liked to go longer,” Porzingis said. “Even if I’m exhausted out there, I still want to push myself. But I know I have to take it step by step. Add a couple minutes next game hopefully.”
Porzingis will have a chance to get some revenge against his former teammates next month when Golden State visits Boston on Mar. 18.