Warriors’ Kristaps Porziņģis to miss fifth straight game, uncertain to travel with team

SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors massive man Kristaps Porziņģis will miss his fifth straight sport due to an sickness on Monday night time, and it stays unclear when he will likely be ready to see the ground once more. Warriors coach Steve Kerr acknowledged prior to Monday’s sport in opposition to the LA Clippers that the group nonetheless would not have readability on precisely what sort of sickness Porziņģis is dealing with.

“Not really,” Kerr stated. “It’s a little mysterious. We’re obviously working with him, and he can get some clarity, and he can kind of break through, and he can get to a point where he’s consistently healthy, but that’s something that the medical staff is working hard on with him. I’m not going to posit any medical theories anymore.”

Porziņģis was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks simply earlier than final month’s commerce deadline in alternate for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield. After enjoying 17 minutes in opposition to the Boston Celtics on Feb. 19, Porziņģis has not been ready to play since. Kerr and the Warriors have been optimistic that Porziņģis would give you the option to play once more after going via Friday’s follow, however he didn’t play on Saturday in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers and remained out.

Porziņģis told The Athletic’s Fred Katz final October, he had been identified with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) and that was what was impacting his play during the last yr. When the Warriors acquired Porziņģis they have been outwardly assured that they might assist him keep off the ground — he has performed simply 60 video games during the last two seasons — however they have not been ready to utterly establish what’s inflicting the problems now. Kerr stated throughout a Friday radio interview on 95.7 The Game in San Francisco that he was instructed by Hawks normal supervisor Onsi Saleh that Porzingis did not have POTS — however then walked those comments back prior to Saturday’s game by saying he had made a “stupid mistake” by attempting to converse concerning the situation. Kerr held that stance prior to Monday’s sport as properly, deflecting a query as to whether or not or not the Warriors know whether or not Porziņģis’ newest sickness is said to the POTS prognosis.

“Whenever (Warriors VP of Player Health and Performance) Rick Celebrini comes back up here behind the mic, you can ask Rick… I’m not qualified. At least he’s qualified.”

What makes the uncertainty round Porzingis much more intense is the actual fact Kuminga has had three consecutive sturdy video games to begin his Hawks’ tenure. Traded by Golden State on Feb. 5, Kuminga made his Hawks debut on Feb. 24 and has averaged 21.3 factors on 67.7 p.c taking pictures whereas making 55.6 p.c of his 3-point makes an attempt. In that span, he is averaged 7.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals as Atlanta has gained all three of his appearances with the team.