Without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis, the Golden State Warriors (30-28) fell short to the New Orleans Pelicans (17-42) 113-109 on Tuesday at Smoothie King Center.
De'Anthony Melton had a season-high 28 points, and Moses Moody added 21.
Zion Williamson had a team-high 26 points, and Saddiq Bey chipped in 18.
The Warriors had 21 turnovers and shot just 24 percent from three.
Here are two takeaways from Tuesday's game.
Porzingis Reality Setting In
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When Kristaps Porzingis plays, there's no doubt that he's valuable on both ends of the court.
The issue is he doesn't just have Achilles tendinitis.
Porzingis was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and though it's not clear when he first got it, it's believed he's had it at least since the [2024 playoffs](https://www.nba.com/news/the-athletic-with-kristaps-porzingis-mystery-illness-solved-hawks-are-primed-for-nba-hunt).
In the two regular seasons since, Porzingis has played in 60 regular-season games and missed 82.
Was this latest illness that forced Porzingis out of the lineup Sunday and Tuesday related to POTS? Whether it was or not, you don't want to put yourself in a position in which you're relying on Porzingis.
The Warriors don't have obvious ways to improve their roster this offseason. Their best-case scenario is Porzingis taking a huge pay cut from the $30.7 million salary he has this season and hoping they can keep him healthy enough to play about every other game in 2026-27.
Expecting anything more than that could torpedo their season.
As a side note, Jonathan Kuminga had a season-high 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting in his Hawks debut Tuesday.
Pain.
Spencer Is in a Funk
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In 23 minutes, Pat Spencer had just five points (2-of-7 shooting), four assists and three turnovers.
In his last five games, Spencer is a minus-39. He has just 21 points over his last four games.
All things considered, Spencer is having a good season. He earned the rest-of-season contract he signed on Feb. 7. But with Stephen Curry injured and the Warriors decimated by injuries, this stretch is his best chance to solidify a role next season.
It's not going well.
The Warriors have 24 games left. Spencer will have more opportunities to impress. But it's looking more and more like they should look elsewhere for a depth point guard next season.