Kristaps Porzingis discussed his shooting and on-court decision-making after the Golden State Warriors held off the Washington Wizards 131-126 at Chase Center on Friday.
“I got lucky. Crazy. No. Honestly, it’s not feeling good. No, but I got, you know, hit the first two or three and um, yeah, I kept shooting. Something goes in anyway,” he said regarding his five-of-11 three-point performance.
Porzingis added that he felt comfortable initiating plays late in the game. “I feel comfortable in those situations. I trust myself. I’ll make the right pass. I can either get a bucket, draw a foul, or create some advantage for us. And I feel good in those situations and I like those situations,” he said.
The 7-foot-2 center credited veteran influence for his development. “I like even my post game and my turning and maybe sometimes I jab and shoot like I kind of developed my own stuff from that. But some of it started with me being with Melo, you know, early in my career and seeing how he jabs and shoots just those jumpers, you know,” Porzingis explained. He also mentioned that younger players benefit from learning from experienced teammates: “Obviously, we have Al and guys like that that are very experienced and you could always learn something from them.”
Porzingis scored 28 points and dished out eight assists in the win, helping Golden State secure their third straight victory. Gui Santos contributed 27 points and crucial free throws in the final seconds, while Brandin Podziemski added 22 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. The Warriors led for most of the game despite the Wizards briefly taking a 111-106 lead with 6 1/2 minutes remaining.
Rookie Will Riley led Washington with 22 points, five rebounds, and five assists, while Bilal Coulibaly added 21 points and Bub Carrington 16. Porzingis provided an early boost with two 3-pointers and two rebounds during a key run that helped Golden State jump to a 38-25 advantage.
Porzingis’s comments highlighted both his individual confidence and appreciation for mentorship, linking his growth to early experiences with Carmelo Anthony and the guidance of veteran teammates. “There’s always that once you see somebody daily…just being around Steph for sure influences them in an amazing way,” he said, referencing how exposure to elite players impacts development.
The Warriors, now 36-38, will visit the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, while the Wizards, at 17-56, head to Portland for another matchup.
