Kristaps Porzingis scored 30 points off the bench in the Warriors' win over the Wizards, crediting his guards for finding him in good spots. He's playing about 25-26 minutes as his conditioning improves, and he's looking forward to his first return to Boston.
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30 points off the bench tonight. What did you have working tonight?
Honestly, I don't even know. I just played my game, honestly. I wasn't doing anything different. And I would say guys were finding me. Melt, BP, Pat, our guards, they were just finding me in good situations, and I just played my game. What was it like having Jimmy in the locker room and just around the team for this game? Uh, I mean, I really don't know Jimmy before, you know, this is, this is the first time for me. So, um, but yeah, I could tell, I could tell the, the team like loves him, you know, uh, just for him to be around, that's, that's pretty cool, you know, to still be on crutches and be around the team. So hats off to him.
How different do you feel just conditioning-wise now compared to what you started out a few weeks ago?
Yeah, definitely energy is getting a lot better. Still a bit, you know, still working my way back, but, but I think the way I'm like, you know, building up and doing already more things on the court, crashing a bit more, this means like I got a little reserve, you know, so start to build that up. So still only 25, almost 26 minutes, but, but honestly was, was feeling the best so far. So with each game, I would still say it's improving.
Kristaps, to your point, you've been saying your legs haven't been the way you wanted them to the last few games. Do you feel like Specifically there, it's right about where you used to seeing it?
No, not yet. I still gotta, I still gotta be a little lighter on my feet for sure. But I'm moving better. I can feel it. I'm moving a little better. But yeah, I still, I still got a pretty good way to go, I would say. So, but with each game, just a little step forward and I'll be all right.
Do you want to start You, right, like you said, it was like 25. I don't know what the final is. Do you want to start ramping that number up a little bit more as you're feeling better?
I feel like it's been going up slowly with each game. This is probably the most I've played, um, and the best I felt. So I think we're on the right track, you know, not to like skip any crazy steps maybe, but kind of take it, take it, uh, one game at a time. And I think I'll end up in a pretty good spot.
How would you describe the reception for Steve after his 600th win tonight?
Yeah, that was cool. I didn't know that. But obviously he's a legendary coach in the league, you know, won many championships and happy for him, you know. You could tell he's a legend, you know.
What do you think Wednesday will be like for you?
Say that again, sorry.
Wednesday, what do you think it'll be like for you back in Boston?
No, I think, I don't know, we'll see. We'll see. No, that'll be cool to come back and— yeah, that'll be my first time back. So I don't know. I haven't even thought about it, honestly. But for sure, I'll get a nice ovation. So that'll be cool.
Do you know if they have a tribute video for you prepared?
I don't know. I don't know. We'll see. Good? Appreciate you. Day 1 of the reunion tour.
