Kristaps Porzingis Left Frustrated With Brandin Podziemski as Steve Kerr Yells Him to 'Pass the Ball!' 

The reaction, however, was immediate. The Latvian big man threw his hands up, clearly expecting the pass. Instead, the missed attempt triggered a costly swing. Denver pushed the other way, converting quickly before adding another three-pointer to cap a five-point turnaround that shifted momentum entirely.

It was a frustrating moment in what had otherwise been an efficient outing for both players. The 7-footer finished with 23 points on a perfect 5-for-5 from deep, continuing his strong run since arriving in Golden State. 

Brandin Podziemski Is Focused On Building Chemistry With Kristaps Porzingis

The Warriors may have fallen short against Denver, but the growing on-court connection between Brandin Podziemski and Kristaps Porzingis is starting to take shape.

Both players finished with equal numbers in the loss, with the Latvian center delivering a flawless 5-for-5 performance from beyond the arc while also reaching the milestone of 1,000 career three-pointers. 

However, for the young guard, the focus is now on maximizing that skill set.

“Every game is growing for us,” Podziemski said postgame. “He’s playing really well, high level. We’re understanding what his tendencies are, what he likes, what he doesn’t. So each game that we’re playing, he’s getting better and better, which is a good sign for not only the rest of this year, but hopefully next year.”

That development is crucial, though. Since arriving midseason, the 7-footer has had limited time to integrate into the system, as the team preferred resting him rather than forcing him into the roster, especially while managing health restrictions. Yet in recent weeks, his role has become clearer, particularly as a floor-spacing big who thrives when involved early and often.