Warriors Suffer Blowout Loss to Pistons, Lose Porzingis to Injury

Golden State commits season-high 26 turnovers in 115-101 defeat

Mar. 21, 2026 at 3:19am

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The Golden State Warriors suffered a blowout 115-101 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Friday night, committing a season-high 26 turnovers. The Warriors also lost Kristaps Porzingis to a lower back injury in the first half, further depleting their roster. Jalen Duren led the Pistons with 23 points, while Brandin Podziemski scored 15 for the Warriors.

Why it matters

The loss drops the Warriors to 10th place in the Western Conference standings, making it more likely they will have to participate in the play-in tournament to reach the playoffs. The team's struggles with injuries and turnovers have been a recurring theme this season.

The details

The Warriors built an early lead but were unable to overcome their careless ball-handling, which led to 26 turnovers and nine fewer shot attempts than the Pistons. De'Anthony Melton, LJ Cryer, and Podziemski provided scoring bursts, but no Warriors player found consistent success. The team's injury woes continued with Porzingis' early exit due to lower back soreness.

  • The Warriors lost to the Pistons on Friday, March 20, 2026.
  • Kristaps Porzingis left the game in the first half with a lower back injury and did not return.

The players

Kristaps Porzingis

A forward for the Golden State Warriors who left the game against the Pistons with a lower back injury.

Jalen Duren

A forward for the Detroit Pistons who led the team with 23 points in the win over the Warriors.

Brandin Podziemski

A guard for the Golden State Warriors who scored 15 points in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to take better care of the ball and limit our turnovers. That's been a recurring issue for us, and it cost us dearly tonight.”

— Steve Kerr, Head Coach, Golden State Warriors

What’s next

The Warriors will face the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, March 21, 2026, in the second game of a back-to-back. They will provide an update on the status of Steph Curry, who has missed the last 20 games due to a knee injury but has recently increased his basketball activities.

The takeaway

The Warriors' struggles with injuries and turnovers have put their playoff positioning in jeopardy, as they now sit in 10th place in the Western Conference standings. If they cannot find a way to take better care of the ball and get healthier, they may be forced to participate in the play-in tournament to reach the postseason.