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Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors closed their regular season with a 115-110 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night. The situation is set. Tenth seed. One path forward.
Golden State now turns toward a rematch with the Clippers in the Play-In Tournament on Wednesday. A win keeps the season alive. A loss ends it. There is no margin.
What Porzingis Said
As the focus shifts to Wednesday, Kristaps Porzingis pointed to something more subtle than performance. Something harder to fix this late in the season.
“It’s not perfect from the get go, but, also, we barely got any time together,” Porzingis said. “It’s just hard to develop.”
The honesty was striking. Porzingis was not making excuses. He was stating a fact. He and Stephen Curry are still learning how to operate together in real time. Not over a full season. On the fly. That is the challenge. And now it becomes the reality heading into an elimination game.
When asked whether the connection could come together quickly enough, Porzingis did not back down.
“Maybe we can make more time,” Porzingis said.
GettyINGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 12: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors runs around Kristaps Porzingis #7 as Kris Dunn #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers chases during the first half of an NBA game at Intuit Dome on April 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images)
What It Has Looked Like on the Floor
The flashes have been there. Porzingis has added a different dimension offensively. His ability to space the floor and provide a scoring option that stretches defenses has opened things up for Curry and the rest of the offense at times.
But it has not been consistent. The timing is still off in stretches. Possessions stall. Defensive rotations lag behind. Those are the kind of details that usually get cleaned up over months of shared minutes. The Warriors have not had that luxury.
The integration has happened quickly. Maybe too quickly for it to feel complete.
GettyGolden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis.
Why It Matters Now for the Warriors
In a Play-In setting, everything compresses. There is no runway to figure things out. No extended series to adjust. No margin for trial and error. You either look connected or you do not.
Golden State’s confidence has not wavered. The belief inside the locker room is that this group can find another level when it matters most. But belief and timing are not the same thing.
Chemistry builds gradually. Through repetition, shared minutes, and mistakes that get corrected over time. The Warriors are trying to skip that process entirely.
GettyStephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Final Word for the Warriors
The Warriors know what is in front of them. A familiar opponent. A familiar setting. And a situation they have navigated before.
This version of the team is different. New pieces, combinations, and responsibilities. But Kristaps is confident they can figure it out.
Wednesday awaits. Curry, Porzingis, and the Warriors will be ready.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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