The Golden State Warriors got a surprise win against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, playing excellent defense and knocking down 40.4% of their perimeter shots en route to a 128-117 victory.
With Stephen Curry having been out since Jan. 30 since knee soreness, this was the Warriors' most encouraging performance in quite a while. They had seven players finish with double-digit scoring, and Brandin Podziemski's monster fourth quarter went a long toward erasing some of the concerns that haven arisen recently surrounding his development..
But Golden State's most impressive offensive performer was, even more suprisingly, veteran center Al Horford. Horford got the last minute-start after Kristaps Porzingis and Draymond Green were ruled out, and he made the most of the opportunity.
In just his sixth start this season, Horford posted 22 points, one rebound, and seven assists while knocking down 6 of his 7 shots from beyond the arc.
Although he had a rough start to the season (and has dealt with his fair share of injury issues), he's since settled into a reliable spot-starting role for the Warriors. This is not only a massive development, it also provides a poignant reminder of what purpose the Kristaps Porzingis move ultimately was.
Porzingis is an upside swing, and if it ultimately doesn't work out, Horford provides an excellent insurance policy.
The Kristaps Porzingis trade was a strong move simply because of how low the stakes are
It's understandable to be disappointed in the Porzingis trade. After a seemingly endless saga of publicity, Jonathan Kuminga was dealt for a player who could very well struggle to take the court for the Warriors over the remainder of the season. If Porzingis departs in free agency or doesn't prove to be worth bringing back, this frustration is entirely warranted.
But there's also the chance that Porzingis, if healthy, is the exact piece Golden State has long sought after. He's a formidable rim protector and a capable perimeter shooter, and his presence could help unlock a new dimension to Curry's game.
With how inconsistent Porzingis's availability has been over the past few seasons, his next deal is bound to be dirt-cheap relative to the value he provides.
If he doesn't come back, however, it's not as though the Warriors will be at square one at center. Since Christmas, Horford has proved he still has plenty of gas left in the tank even at age 39.
Over the past 10 games, he's averaged 10.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 36.4% from 3-point range. He's received four starts in that span.
Of course, Golden State makes sacrifices defensively with Horford in the game, especially against larger opposing centers. Nikola Jokic's 35-point performance yesterday is immediate proof of that.
They might need to take another look at the center market this offseason as a result.
But it's important to remember that Horford is more than capable of being the player Warriors fans hoped he could be when he was initially signed. His presence means that the acquisition of Porzingis can be exactly what it was meant to: a swing on the upside of a 7'2" big man.