Warriors Vs Celtics: Porzingis sparks late push but Boston wins 121-110
Kristaps Porzingis scored 12 points in his Warriors debut and played 17 minutes off the bench in the warriors vs celtics game Thursday, but Boston closed out a 121-110 victory in a contest that never felt close.
Porzingis' limited debut and a second-half lift
Porzingis, appearing in just his 18th game of the season and making his first appearance since Jan. 7 with the Atlanta Hawks, was eased into action and came off the bench for 17 minutes, missing his first two shots before finding a late rhythm. He hit two long 3s, converted a pair of post-ups and finished with 12 points as the Warriors rallied in the second half; Golden State outscored Boston by 15 with Porzingis on the floor after a minus-19 in his first-half minutes.
Second-quarter rout and Brown's triple-double
Boston broke the game open in the second quarter, outscoring the Warriors 38-19 and building a lead that reached 32 points by the time Porzingis returned late in the third. Jaylen Brown paced the Celtics with a 23-point, 15-rebound, 13-assist triple-double, and the margin established in that second quarter proved decisive in the 121-110 final score.
Injuries, standings and what it meant for Golden State
The loss dropped the Warriors to 29-27 and underscored the urgency of integrating Porzingis into the rotation: he said he wanted to increase his minutes "as quickly as possible" after the game. The team will remain without Jimmy Butler, who tore his ACL and is done for the season, and Stephen Curry, whose persistent right knee issue will keep him sidelined at least four games, leaving the roster short of its top options during this stretch.
Coach Steve Kerr described Boston as "incredible" and called the Celtics "a machine right now, " reflecting how the second-quarter surge and steady play from Brown and others tilted the contest. For Porzingis, the night offered a concrete starting point: limited minutes, two made 3-pointers, successful post-ups and a boost the Warriors briefly rode to challenge the deficit in the third and fourth quarters.
The warriors vs celtics matchup delivered a clear outline of what comes next for Golden State: build Porzingis' conditioning and offensive rhythm quickly while key players remain sidelined and the team chases consistency down the stretch. The immediate schedule gives the Warriors a quick chance for adjustment — they face the Denver Nuggets on Sunday at 12: 30 p. m. PT on ABC.
