Kristaps Porzingis' Shaky Warriors Debut in Loss to Celtics

The former Celtics big man was critical of his own performance as Golden State struggles without Curry and Butler.

Feb. 28, 2026 at 10:55pm by Ben Kaplan

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In his Golden State Warriors debut, Kristaps Porzingis struggled to find his rhythm, finishing with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting in 17 minutes as the Warriors fell 121-110 to the Boston Celtics. Porzingis acknowledged he was "far from being in perfect shape" and was "a half step late" at times, but expressed confidence he will continue to improve as he gets back up to speed. Warriors coach Steve Kerr noted it was "tricky" for Porzingis in his first game with a new team, but said he looked more comfortable in the second half.

Why it matters

The Warriors are in a precarious position, having lost star players Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler to injuries. Porzingis was acquired at the trade deadline to help offset those losses, but his underwhelming debut raises questions about whether he can be the "season-saving" addition the Warriors need to remain competitive this year.

The details

Porzingis struggled early, as the Celtics went on a 17-2 run when he entered the game in the second quarter. He looked burdened by the speed of the game and was slow on defensive assignments. However, Porzingis found a better rhythm in the second half, commanding double teams in the post and hitting some three-pointers. The Warriors are now in an uncertain position, having won too many games to tank but lacking the talent to truly contend without Curry and Butler.

  • Porzingis made his Warriors debut on February 20, 2026.

The players

Kristaps Porzingis

A 7-foot-3 center who was acquired by the Warriors at the trade deadline to help offset the losses of Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler.

Steve Kerr

The head coach of the Golden State Warriors.

Stephen Curry

The star point guard of the Golden State Warriors who is currently sidelined with a knee injury.

Jimmy Butler

The star forward of the Golden State Warriors who is out for the season after undergoing ACL surgery.

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What they’re saying

“Far from being in perfect shape, but first game back after a while, getting some energy back, feeling good. As the game went on, just felt better and better. And I think this is a good, like, first step to keep building.”

— Kristaps Porzingis

“First game with a new team, it's always tricky. You don't really know your teammates, you don't really have a feel for what's happening. But I thought just from the first half to the second half, he just looked more comfortable and settled in.”

— Steve Kerr, Head Coach, Golden State Warriors

“We've got to learn to play without Jimmy and Steph both. And that means bringing the juice, bringing the energy, finding a little bit of swagger without those guys. And it's not easy, but we have to do it. We have to find a way.”

— Steve Kerr, Head Coach, Golden State Warriors

What’s next

The Warriors will continue to integrate Porzingis into their lineup as they try to remain competitive without Curry and Butler. The team's performance over the next 26 games will be crucial in determining their direction moving forward, whether that's making a playoff push or shifting into evaluation mode for the offseason.

The takeaway

Kristaps Porzingis' shaky Warriors debut highlights the challenges the team faces in trying to remain competitive without their two injured stars. While Porzingis showed flashes, his struggles to find a rhythm underscore the uphill battle the Warriors face in salvaging their season and extending Curry's championship window.