By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Golden State Warriors suffered a 104-97 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on Saturday, but the headline was the return of Kristaps Porzingis. After a six-game absence officially attributed to a general illness, the 7’3″ center returned to the lineup to provide a versatile stat line of nine points, five rebounds, five assists, and one block in 23 minutes of action.
Reflecting on his physical state and the frustration of his recent sidelining, the Latvian import expressed newfound optimism regarding his durability. “I felt like my body’s coming back where I need to be. Honestly, I just got one workout in and felt pretty decent,” Porzingis noted. Addressing his recurring health struggles, he added, “Just some health stuff, a little bit. And I believe I will be healthy now, honestly. This is what I really feel. And not to sell anything, because obviously I’ve been in and out, and out again, but this time I really feel that this is it, and finally getting out there healthy.”
The big man’s return is pivotal for a Warriors team looking to build chemistry after acquiring him mid-season. Porzingis is focused on the immediate future, stating, “Obviously, it’s only 20 games left or so in the regular season, but I wanna catch a really good rhythm and then see if we can do something in the postseason. So, I’m excited to play with these guys, and I look forward to getting in top shape and looking really good.”
His presence was immediately felt by his teammates, particularly Draymond Green, who remarked, “The game’s a lot easier when he’s on the floor.” As the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season enters its final stretch, Porzingis is focused on building chemistry with his new squad. “Obviously, it’s only 20 games left or so in the regular season, but I wanna catch a really good rhythm and then see if we can do something in the postseason,” he said.
The Warriors’ rotation featured Dutch forward Malevy Leons, who scored three points, while fellow Dutchman Quinten Post remained on the bench. On the opposite side, the defending champions were without German center Isaiah Hartenstein (left calf contusion) and Belgian guard Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain/left ankle sprain), while Serbian Nikola Topic was available but did not see playing time.