GSW 125, WAS 117: Porziņģis Demolishes Fantasy Leagues With 60 ESPN FP
Marcus Thompson Jr.
Fire Lieutenant · Golden State Warriors fan
Warriors Steal One in DC as Porzingis Goes Absolutely Nuclear
Golden State 125, Washington 117
Yo, I'm not gonna lie, this one had me sweating. Coming into DC as a Dubs fan with the way things have been going this season, you take wins where you can get them. But what I saw last night wasn't just a W, it was a masterclass in how one guy can absolutely take over a game when his teammates actually get him the ball in the right spots.
Kristaps Porziņģis didn't just show up. He showed out.
Let me put this in perspective because the numbers tell the real story here.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kristaps Porziņģis | 60.0 | 54.0 | 30/5/4 | 17.2/4.8/2.7 | +12.8 |
| De'Anthony Melton | 49.0 | 42.0 | 27/5/4 | 13.4/3.1/2.4 | +13.6 |
| Bilal Coulibaly | 42.0 | 37.6 | 21/8/4 | 11.0/4.4/2.6 | +10.0 |
| Trae Young | 41.0 | 33.9 | 21/2/5 | 17.9/2.0/8.0 | +3.1 |
| Gui Santos | 42.0 | 32.3 | 18/4/5 | 8.1/3.7/2.1 | +9.9 |
| Gary Payton II | 35.0 | 32.2 | 15/6/2 | 6.6/3.4/1.6 | +8.4 |
| Will Riley | 31.0 | 30.3 | 21/4/5 | 8.6/2.6/1.7 | +12.4 |
| Draymond Green | 26.0 | 28.1 | 5/8/7 | 8.5/5.6/5.3 | -3.5 |
| Anthony Gill | 20.0 | 21.6 | 4/8/2 | 3.9/2.5/1.0 | +0.1 |
| Pat Spencer | 22.0 | 21.6 | 10/3/4 | 6.6/2.3/3.5 | +3.4 |
Porzingis went 8-13 from the field with a pristine 13-14 from the line. That's efficiency. That's dominance. And he did it in just 25 minutes, which actually worries me a little because it means the Warriors were probably blowing this thing out and rested him early. But listen, a +12.8 point night against your season average? That's not luck. That's a guy who was clearly the most dangerous player on the court.
Reminds me of when I watched a young Dirk Nowitzki back in the day, except Porzingis has that extra gear defensively with those blocks. He finished 2/3 from three too, which tells you Washington had no answer for him anywhere on the floor.
De'Anthony Melton Was The Real Story
But here's what got me more fired up than a blocked engine at the station: De'Anthony Melton went 12-17 from the field for 27 points. That's 70.6% from the floor in 30 minutes. This man did not miss last night.
27 and 5 rebounds with 4 assists? This is the kind of performance that makes you check the box score twice because you think you read it wrong. He was +13.6 against his season average. For context, Melton is averaging 13.4 PPG on the year, so he basically doubled his normal output on elite efficiency.
The Warriors have been dealing with inconsistency all season, but when Melton and Porzingis are clicking like this, suddenly you're looking at a team that can beat anybody on any night. That's the kind of two-man game that's been missing.
Warriors Role Players Show Up
Gui Santos with 18 points on 7-10 shooting and four threes? That's a +9.9 night against his average. Gary Payton II added 15 on 7-10 with 6 boards and 2 steals. Draymond Green was Draymond, not putting up shots (2-8) but running the offense with 7 assists and 8 rebounds in 28 minutes.
What matters here is the balance. When Porzingis and Melton are the only guys contributing, that's a nice night. When half the roster shows up like this, that's how you steal a road win against a competent team. Washington wasn't dead weight last night either.
Washington's Bright Spots Don't Matter
Bilal Coulibaly had a legit performance with 21 points and 8 boards, hitting 7-10 from the field. That's a young guy playing hungry. Trae Young was efficient (7-10 shooting) with 21 and 5 assists but only 21 minutes played, which tells you the game got away from them.
Will Riley dropped 21 points with 5 assists off the bench, 4-10 from three. That's the kind of game where a role player goes off, but it wasn't enough to overcome what the Warriors were doing.
What This Means For Your Roster
Porzingis is a must-start. I don't care what league you're in. When he puts up 54 Yahoo points in 25 minutes, you're looking at a potential Top-50 player for the season if he stays healthy and gets consistent usage. That efficiency is not a fluke.
Melton just made himself interesting. This wasn't a typical Melton night. His season average sitting at 13.4 PPG means he's been pretty steady, but when he gets hot like this, he's a legit third scoring option. If you had room to add him before this game, he's now someone you're thinking about in deeper leagues.
For Washington, Coulibaly is the long-term hold here. He's clearly got a role in their offense and +10 against his average suggests he can step up. Will Riley goes back to being a bench guy you watch, not chase. Hot shooting happens. Sustainability is what matters.
The Bottom Line
Warriors grabbed a win they probably needed, Porzingis reminded everyone why he can be terrifying when engaged, and Melton showed he's got another gear. That's a good night for Golden State, even if it came in DC and not in the Bay.
For your lineups, lock in Porzingis. Keep an eye on Melton. Don't get cute with Riley. That's your postgame report.