In a significant matchup on Thursday night, the Golden State Warriors faced off against the Boston Celtics, marking the debut of big man Kristaps Porziņģis with the team. Despite Porziņģis contributing 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting in his 17 minutes of play, the Warriors fell to the Celtics with a final score of 121-110.
Sadly for the Warriors, their star guard Stephen Curry will face an extended time away from the court due to a persistent knee injury. According to reports from ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater, Curry could miss at least five upcoming games after the season resumes. He has been sidelined since January 30 and will be reevaluated in ten days to assess his knee’s progress.
Head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the setback, noting that Curry was not in the condition needed to participate fully in a recent live scrimmage. “It’s unfortunate. We’ll have an update tomorrow after he goes through his time with the training staff,” Kerr stated. The coach also mentioned the possibility of Curry needing another MRI after consulting with the team’s medical staff.
Porziņģis, who was traded from Atlanta in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga at the deadline, has also faced challenges this season, battling both illness and Achilles tendonitis. However, he has managed to average 17.1 points and 5.1 rebounds across 17 games this season. The Warriors will need to rely on the contributions of their remaining players as they navigate this tough period without their star point guard.
As the team adjusts, there remains hope that Porziņģis can bring a much-needed spark to the lineup, potentially paving the way for improved performance in Curry’s absence.