Kristaps Porzingis, a giant above giants

” I have to admit, I feel pretty good! “, throws a Kristaps Porzingis all smiles, statistics sheet in hand, appearing in front of the press. The Latvian has reason to be in high spirits after his superb performance posted in the win over Wolves.

This match was enough to arouse curiosity with on one side the giant of the Wizards and its 2m21, and on the other, the “Twin Towers” ​​of Wolves, Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, both around seven feet (2m17 and 2m13). It only took a few possessions to figure out which side was going to take over the other.

From the first action, Kyle Kuzma, served with his back to the basket against “KAT”, found Porzingis at the head of the racket: 3-points. Next possession, on a baseline throw-in, the same Kuzma found his teammate in the same place: 3-points again. Third possession, the former Lakers player signed the extra pass for his interior: another 3-points!

With, in all three cases, a late Rudy Gobert to get in the way beyond the arc. ” He knew his mission, knowing that Rudy was always going to be in defensive assist, so we took advantage of it very early in the game, I had to make four assists (note: three actually) what, two minutes? », notes Kyle Kuzma whose team was able to take advantage of Wolves’ miscommunications.

Like this third possession, therefore, where Bradley Beal benefited from a very high double screen, from his two interiors, and was followed in his “drive” by both his direct defender, Austin Rivers, and Gobert ET Towns who dropped their own striker. Result, after Beal’s fixation towards the circle, Kuzma was as much liberated as Porzingis…

He was preparing not to play the fourth quarter

” I had those first three shots that were pretty open. When I saw that it was coming in, it put me in a good rhythm. The others kept serving me, I didn’t look back “, Describes the interior of the Wizards, author also of a big counter on Towns. ” When a talented player like ‘KP’ catches fire, it’s hard to cool him down », completes Kuzma who finds « always nice to contribute to a player’s career record.

Because his match obviously did not end after these first three missiles. Porzingis followed up with three more 3-point baskets in the following minutes to reach the 29 points scored… at the break, with his team well ahead in the score (77-58).

” After the half, I said to myself ‘Okay, 29 points, I think that’s my record in a half’. I told myself that I wouldn’t get it (note: his record in a match) because I thought maybe we were going to beat them by 30 points and I wouldn’t play the fourth half. I was preparing for this scenario in my head “, Continues the 27-year-old, who did play in the final period where he continued to score, but closer to the circle.

This one, author of 41 points in the end (12/18 in shots, including 6/10 from afar and 11/11 in throws), says he appreciates evolving against tall players to benefit from spaces thanks to his ability to be sanctioned from afar. ” That’s why most of our opponents put a full back on me. (Wolves) with their two big ones were forced to put one of the two on me. That’s why I felt more comfortable. »