Warriors' Kristaps Porzingis 'feeling better' as he continues recovery from illness

Porzingis scored 17 points and had 4 blocks in 20 minutes against the Bulls as he works to regain his rhythm and stamina.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis continues to make progress in his recovery from an illness that caused him to miss six straight games. In his third game back, Porzingis scored 17 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and blocked 4 shots in 20 minutes of action against the Chicago Bulls. Porzingis acknowledged that his shot and rhythm are still not fully back, but he is feeling better with each game as he works to rebuild his stamina and conditioning.

Why it matters

The Warriors acquired Porzingis at the trade deadline to bolster their frontcourt and provide scoring and rim protection. His continued recovery and return to form will be crucial as the Warriors make a playoff push in the competitive Western Conference.

The details

Porzingis opened the game against the Bulls looking sharp, knocking down a pick-and-pop three and a turnaround jumper in the post. He later hit a big three-pointer during a Warriors run to get back in the game. Defensively, Porzingis was a presence at the rim, recording 4 blocks. However, Porzingis acknowledged that he still lacks some of his usual explosiveness and 'pop', pointing to a missed dunk opportunity in transition where he didn't have the legs to finish strongly.

  • Porzingis missed six straight games with an illness before returning to action.
  • In his third game back, Porzingis played 20 minutes against the Bulls on March 11, 2026.

The players

Kristaps Porzingis

A 7'3" center for the Golden State Warriors who was acquired in a trade deadline deal. Porzingis is working to regain his rhythm and stamina after missing time due to illness.

Jonathan Kuminga

A young forward who was traded by the Warriors to acquire Porzingis.

Buddy Hield

A veteran guard who was also traded by the Warriors in the deal to acquire Porzingis.

Al Horford

A veteran center for the Chicago Bulls who challenged Porzingis at the rim.

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What they’re saying

“It's not so good, it's not too good. But I'm still able to knock some shots down. I think it's just a matter of time finding a good rhythm and knocking open looks down.”

— Kristaps Porzingis (clutchpoints.com)

“Definitely [felt] better today. I would say I need probably four or five games to feel pretty good. Still feel like my legs are not great, you know, I would make some other decisions if I felt like my legs are there, you know. But I'm playing with the cards I have now. And I think I will just keep building with each game.”

— Kristaps Porzingis (clutchpoints.com)

What’s next

Porzingis and the Warriors will look for him to continue building his stamina and rhythm over the next 4-5 games as they push for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The takeaway

Porzingis' gradual return to form is an encouraging sign for the Warriors, who are counting on him to provide scoring, rebounding, and rim protection as they make a playoff run. His ability to regain his elite level of play will be crucial to the team's success down the stretch.