Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis has come back from a virus with vengeance, posting some of his best numbers of the year in his three appearances following an eight-game stint on the injury report.
Porzingis had a monster night in Salt Lake City Friday. He led Boston to a 121-99 win with 27 points in just under 25 minutes, shooting 60%, and had 10 rebounds. He said despite those numbers, he’s still struggling with lingering malaise from the upper respiratory illness that first sidelined him in late February.
NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin asked him how he’s been able to produce so well since his return.
“Honestly I don’t know because I’m not feeling my best,” he said in the courtside interview. “I’m just trying to, maybe trying to create a bit more, and that kind of leads to more opportunities for myself.”
Over the last three games, he’s averaged 25.3 points and 8.3 rebounds, and has shot about 61%. Those numbers, while a small sample size, are a big jump from his season-long average of 19.3 points per game, 6.8 rebounds, and has shot 48% from the floor.
Last week, Porzingis called his time on the sideline “extremely frustrating” after his first game back against the Brooklyn Nets.
“I haven’t been this sick for probably ever in my life. So, I was really, like, for a week, really just laying at home trying to recover,” Porzingis told reporters.
The 7’3 center said he’s been battling lingering fatigue as he fully recovers. Well, it doesn’t show on the floor at all. It helps that the competition he’s seen on the other side aren’t playoff teams, but it should still inspire confidence in anyone perpetually worried about Porzingis’ health.
He doesn’t look labored. He’s his usual enthusiastic and efficient self, and even got into it a bit with Utah’s Collin Sexton Friday night, after Sexton didn’t like some of the contact he drew in the third quarter.
“For me, honestly, it doesn’t affect me at all. Honestly, those are the moments I need to stay in the game because I can get more reaction out of them, and then the post-ups and fouls,” he told Chin.
Handling Porzingis’ playing time is always a delicate matter for Boston. He’s a rare, rim-protecting big who can truly stretch the floor, but his injury history is a big reason why he was available for the Celtics back in 2023. During his 10 NBA seasons prior to this current one, he’s only played 60 games or more in three. The Celtics have to be intentional about how much he plays during this six-game road trip, while keeping his conditioning intact for the playoffs.
Porzingis told Chin he doesn’t shy away from combative play.
“Everybody’s trying to be physical with me, and I somehow have to combat that. You know, obviously, I know how to sell fouls a little bit,” he said.
Aside from Porzingis’ availability, head coach Joe Mazzulla will need to flex some creativity around his lineups down the home stretch of the regular season. The Celtics released a statement ahead of the Jazz game that forward Jaylen Brown has a bone bruise with “posterior impingement” in his right knee, and said he would miss both that game and Saturday against Portland Trailblazers. He’ll be reevaluated Monday.
