Kristaps Porzingis crashes with the Celtics in his debut with the Warriors

Kristaps Porzingis' debut with the Golden State Warriors came on a challenging night. They were defeated at home by the Boston Celtics 121-110 in a game that never felt within reach. Spanish player Hugo González played 12 minutes and finished with 7 points and 4 rebounds. Payton Pritchard was the standout for the Celtics with 26 points, while Jaylen Brown had 23 points. The Warriors are eagerly awaiting the return of Stephen Curry.

Controlled Minutes for Porzingis

Coach Steve Kerr opted for a gradual return for the Latvian player: coming off the bench and playing only 17 minutes. Porzingis missed his first two shots and struggled against Boston's offensive onslaught.

The Celtics broke the game open in the second quarter with a 38-19 run and led by as much as 32 points when Porzingis re-entered towards the end of the third period. Jaylen Brown led the visiting team with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 13 assists.

"Boston was fantastic. They are a machine right now," summarized Kerr after the game .

Positive Signs and Reaction

Despite the score, Golden State responded in the second half and threatened to narrow the gap to single digits. Porzingis played a part in this improvement.

The center hit two deep three-pointers, scored in the low post on a couple of plays, and finished with 12 points. After halftime, where the Warriors were down by 19 points, the team outscored the opposition by 15 points during Porzingis's minutes on the court.

"He appeared more comfortable, more settled," explained Kerr.

Porzingis, on the other hand, made it clear that he wants to increase his workload as soon as possible. "Even today, I would have liked to play more. Even if I'm exhausted, I want to push myself. But I have to take it step by step."

Warriors' Tough Situation

The urgency is evident. The Warriors are without Jimmy Butler for the entire season due to an anterior cruciate ligament tear, and Stephen Curry will be out for at least four games due to ongoing issues with his right knee.

Without their two main stars, the team's record has dropped to 29-27, and they need Porzingis to quickly find his rhythm to provide the offensive boost they are lacking.

The next challenge will be against the Denver Nuggets, in a scenario that requires a collective step up.

"I felt good. Far from being in perfect shape, but for the first game after a layoff, I have good feelings," concluded the Latvian player.

The debut didn't change the outcome, but it provided hints of what Golden State hopes will be a significant addition in the crucial stretch of the season.

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