Kristaps Porzingis Set for Warriors Debut vs. Celtics; Stephen Curry Out

Former Celtics center Porzingis expected to play, but two-time MVP Curry to miss sixth straight game due to knee injury.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Former Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is set to make his debut with the Golden State Warriors when they host the Boston Celtics on Thursday night. However, two-time MVP Stephen Curry will miss his sixth consecutive game due to a sore right knee. Porzingis was acquired by the Warriors from the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline but hasn't played since January 7 due to issues with his left Achilles tendon. He is considered 'questionable' for Thursday's game but said he is 'ready to go.' Curry's continued absence is an 'unfortunate' situation, according to Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

Why it matters

Porzingis' Warriors debut is highly anticipated, as he provides a new scoring threat and post-up option for the team. However, the absence of Curry, one of the league's biggest stars, is a significant blow as the Warriors look to improve their standing in the Western Conference playoff race. The matchup between the Warriors and Celtics, two of the NBA's top 3-point shooting teams, is also an intriguing one.

The details

Porzingis, who played for the Celtics last season, was limited to 42 games due to a medical condition. He was traded to the Hawks in the offseason and is now joining the Warriors, who are hoping he can provide a boost to their frontcourt. Curry has missed the last six games due to a sore right knee, and the Warriors are eager to get their star player back on the court.

  • Porzingis was acquired by the Warriors at the trade deadline.
  • Porzingis has not played since January 7 due to an Achilles injury.
  • Porzingis is targeting Thursday's game against the Celtics for his Warriors debut.
  • Curry has missed the last six games due to a sore right knee.

The players

Kristaps Porzingis

A former Celtics center who was acquired by the Golden State Warriors at the trade deadline and is set to make his debut with the team on Thursday.

Stephen Curry

A two-time NBA MVP who will miss his sixth consecutive game for the Golden State Warriors due to a sore right knee.

Steve Kerr

The head coach of the Golden State Warriors, who discussed Porzingis' fit with the team and Curry's continued absence.

Jayson Tatum

A six-time All-Star for the Boston Celtics who is recovering from a torn Achilles and has begun practicing with some of his teammates this week.

Ron Harper Jr.

A Celtics player who commented on Tatum's progress during his rehab and the team's excitement for his potential return.

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What they’re saying

“I look forward to really having a surprisingly good post All-Star break.”

— Kristaps Porzingis (statenews.net)

“He's an easy fit. You don't have to change a whole lot. The biggest difference I guess that he provides is post-ups. He's a pretty good post-up player, especially against switches. You throw him the ball at the foul line, the elbows, even the low block, he can score in those spots. That was one of the things we did today, we worked on our spacing.”

— Steve Kerr, Warriors Head Coach (statenews.net)

“Just wasn't where he needed to be. It's unfortunate. We'll have an update (Thursday) after he goes through his time with the training staff.”

— Steve Kerr, Warriors Head Coach (statenews.net)

“He looked like Jayson Tatum, I'll say that much. We're really excited for the potential of him coming back. We don't know for sure if he's going to come back. We're just really excited to see him progress during his rehab.”

— Ron Harper Jr., Celtics Player (statenews.net)

What’s next

The Warriors and Celtics will face off on Thursday night, with Porzingis expected to make his Warriors debut and Curry's status for the game still to be determined.

The takeaway

The Warriors' acquisition of Porzingis provides them with a new scoring threat, but his debut will be overshadowed by the continued absence of their superstar Curry. The matchup between the Warriors and Celtics, two of the NBA's top 3-point shooting teams, will be an intriguing one as both teams look to position themselves for a strong second half of the season.