BOSTON — Kristaps Porzingis displayed his impressive skills once more in his second game back from illness. Facing the same Nets team he dominated just a few days ago, the big man was all over the court on Tuesday, finishing with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Porzingis played 29 minutes, slightly fewer than his first game back against the Nets, where he played 31 minutes, including the entire fourth quarter. This puts both Porzingis and the Celtics in a compelling situation for the remainder of the season.
The Celtics are firmly in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 50-19 record, leaving them with 13 games remaining in the regular season. It’s unlikely they’ll catch the first-place Cavaliers or be surpassed by the third-place Knicks, which reduces the urgency to heavily rely on their stars. This is partly why Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both sat out Tuesday’s win over the Nets. However, Porzingis, eager to play as much as possible, explained his motivation.
“I definitely want to play,” Porzingis said. “I need to get in the best shape. After the illness, it’s taking me some time, but each day I feel a little bit better. Fortunately, the schedule has worked out well for me—having one game, then two days off, and now another two days off. This doesn’t happen often, and it’s perfect timing for me. I’m just working my way back to peak condition and looking forward to being at my best going into the postseason.”
Getting Porzingis fully integrated back into the lineup is crucial for the Celtics as they approach the playoffs. As he showed on Tuesday, his two-way contributions are vital. Not only did he score efficiently, but he also added three blocks to the stat sheet.
Adding to the importance of his return is the fact that Porzingis missed the first month of the season rehabbing foot surgery from an injury sustained during the NBA Finals. So far, he’s played in just 34 games this season and is focused on ramping up his activity.
The Celtics, however, are mindful of Porzingis’ injury history, making it essential to balance getting him back into game shape with ensuring he’s fresh for the playoffs. While these decisions will need to be carefully considered, it’s a positive sign for the C’s that he’s back on the court and performing at a high level. Now, they begin a six-game road trip, their longest of the season, against Western Conference teams.
“Obviously, we expect to win every game,” Porzingis said. “There may be a few games this season where we weren’t the favorites, but I’m not sure what the betting odds will say. We’re focused on trying to win every game. What our roster will look like is another question, but yeah, going 6-0 and coming back home would be perfect.”