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Kristaps Porzingis said the Golden State Warriors’ 126-121 play-in win over the Los Angeles Clippers felt like the kind of game that can define a team’s postseason identity. After scoring 20 points and helping fuel the fourth-quarter surge, he pointed to the group’s energy from the opening tip.
“I just wanted to come in with good energy, crash the boards, be as active as I can and just give everything I could to the team,” Porzingis said. “And was able to convert some offensive rebounds into something and do some little things well and get myself going in the game.”
Porzingis said Al Horford’s late scoring burst was a major turning point in the Warriors’ comeback from 13 down in the fourth quarter. Horford hit four 3-pointers in the final period, and Porzingis credited the confidence behind each shot.
“Yeah. No, he got in a good rhythm and you could see like the second, third, fourth shot was full of confidence,” he said. “He’s one of the main reasons why we won this game.”
He also said Curry’s second-half takeover is exactly what opponents fear and teammates value. Curry scored 35 points, including 27 after halftime, and broke the game open with a late three.
“He’s unreal,” Porzingis said. “I’m happy I’m on his side now, because I used to be on the other side and there’s not much you can do when this guy gets going and is hitting these wild shots.”
Porzingis said the Warriors never stopped believing, even while trailing for much of the night. That confidence, he said, came from having Curry on the floor.
“We’re going to be dangerous at any point of the game, no matter how much we’re down,” Porzingis said. “So he was huge tonight.”
The veteran big man called the atmosphere and the stakes a reminder of what makes the play-in format matter. “It’s my first play-in game, so atmosphere was great. I had fun,” he said. “Tonight was win or go home and those are fun games to be a part of.”
Porzingis also pointed to the larger value of a season spent searching for answers before the result finally arrived. “It’s weird because you play 82 games, but then your season kind of is on the line in one or two games,” he said. “But that’s kind of like a blessing for us because we’re the 10 seed.”
He said there is still another level for him physically as the Warriors move toward Friday’s game in Phoenix. “For sure. For sure. I still have to get in better shape,” Porzingis said. “But last practice and today I would say I’m feeling decent.”
On Draymond Green, Porzingis was just as direct. “Defensively he’s an animal,” he said. “He for sure sets the tone for us and he did an amazing job on Kawhi tonight.”
The Warriors now head to Phoenix with a chance to reach the postseason proper, and Porzingis said the team must keep the same edge. “We have to give everything we have with this group and then see how far we can get,” he said.
