Kristaps Porzingis debuts in starting lineup

SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors took one step forward and four back.

Kristaps Porzingis debuted in the starting lineup, played arguably his best game yet and seems to have turned a corner in his battle with the “mysterious” illness that had kept him sidelined.

Still, there was nothing to celebrate in the Golden State locker room after another four players left injured Friday night in their 127-117 loss to Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves.

“We’re about as beaten up as any team I can ever remember,” coach Steve Kerr said.

Even small wins come with more losses these days in Warriors World.

Draymond Green was ruled out an hour before tipoff. Al Horford played the first five minutes and didn’t return. Golden State finished the game with eight healthy players after Seth Curry and Quinten Post were forced to leave early, too.

It made containing Edwards, who feasted for 42 points, an impossible task. And didn’t leave much appetite to appreciate Porzingis’ 20 points in 19 minutes, second only to Brandin Podizemski, who finished with 25.

“Kristaps seems to be getting more and more comfortable,” Kerr said. “I thought he looked better tonight physically than the other night. Hopefully that’ll continue to build.”

The game was the third Porzingis has played out of the Warriors’ past four after missing 10 of his first 11. Before tipoff Kerr said Porzingis was “finding some answers” to remain on the court.

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Porzingis posted up at the free-throw line, he played a little two-man game with Brandin Podziemski and De’Anthony Melton, and “really start(ed) to find a rhythm,” Kerr said.

Porzingis said he still had “a ways to go” but was “happy with the progress” he’s made. He was more amused that the Warriors’ upcoming road trip has stops against all five of his former teams. While still capped at about 20 minutes, Porzingis should be able to play in at least all but the two back-to-backs on the trip.

The opportunity to start against Minnesota alongside Horford only came about by misfortune. Green’s back that has bothered him all season flared up again, ruling him out.

Potentially a longer-term loss came about five minutes into the game. Kerr used Green’s late scratch as a chance to get a look at his two veteran big men together. It didn’t last long. The duo checked out at the 7:05 mark and Horford never returned.

The Warriors announced that Horford left with tightness in his right calf. Kerr described it as a sprain and seemed to indicate the 39-year-old was expected to miss some time.

“I have no idea how long Al will be out,” he said. “But I would anticipate, with a calf, we’re not going to rush him back.”

Curry left with a sore left groin. Post sprained his left ankle. Already missing were Jimmy Butler (out for the season), Steph Curry (for the 16th game in a row) and Moses Moody.

With Melton, Will Richard and Gary Payton II also having missed time recently, Kerr compared figuring out his rotation to solving a Rubix cube. Podziemski, Gui Santos and Pat Spencer are their only non two-way players to appear in all six games this month.

Podziemski hasn’t missed a game all season.

“I want to play all 82. I still do,” Podziemski said. “The challenging part with the injuries is the heavy minutes with the back-to-backs, especially when we’ve got six in nine nights coming up.”

Santos said he feels fresh but has looked gassed at points the past two games, rightfully so. He’s averaging 32 minutes per game since the start of February compared to 12.3 per game prior. Podziemski played at least 35 minutes for the fifth time in six games this month.

“We’re always trying to run for each other and we’re always trying to make the extra play and try to help each other,” Santos said. “But when we’ve lost a lot of guys like this, it’s really tough for us.”

The losses, both on the court and in the training room, have begun to pile up. The Warriors’ losing streak reached a season-long four games, sending them two games below .500 for only the second time this season — just a half-game above the Trail Blazers in 10th.

Golden State will be without Curry for at least four more games. Kerr wasn’t sure if he would be on the team’s Saturday morning flight to New York to begin the six-game road trip.

Podziemski called the circumstances a “blessing in disguise.” Kerr agreed. When and if the Warriors are ever healthy again, the payoff could be twofold: Role players with newfound confidence and experience get an infusion from established stars with fresh legs.

Brighter days ahead, he said.

“There’s light at the end of the tunnel,” Podziemski said. “But until we see that light it doesn’t really matter.”