Feb. 23, 2026, 2:30 p.m. PT
Al Horford made his sixth start of the season on Sunday, Feb. 22. He stepped into the Golden State Warriors starting lineup as Steve Kerr navigated a growing injury list that included Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis, Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Seth Curry.
Horford saw the floor for 26 minutes, ending the night with 22 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks. He shot 8-of-11 from the field, including 6-of-7 from deep. Helping Golden State secure a shock 128-117 win over the Denver Nuggets. When speaking to the media after the game, the veteran big man shared his mindset after finding out he would be starting against the Denver Nuggets.
“Once I realized I had to start, I just needed to make sure that I brought energy and those shots were available early on,” Horford said. “I wanted us to play with pace, play fast, and get the ball moving. That was the key for the rest of the game.”
Horford joined the Warriors during the offseason, signing a two-year deal with the franchise after leaving the Boston Celtics. His ability to space the floor, defend multiple positions and create on and around the elbow added a new dimension to Kerr’s rotation. However, his production against the Nuggets was arguably the best version of himself, and will undoubtedly leave the Warriors fanbase wanting more.
Golden State’s injury issues are expected to continue for their upcoming back-to-back against the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies. Therefore, Horford could find himself operating with the starting unit for a little while longer. If he continues to produce at the level we saw against Denver, Kerr might have some tough choices to make once the roster starts getting back to full strength.
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