During a disheartening fourth quarter for the Knicks on Wednesday, Kristaps Porzingis showcased what he’s capable of, despite struggling with an unspecified illness that drained his energy. This condition limited him to just 26 minutes and 51 seconds on the court over the first two games, including only 13 minutes and 53 seconds in Game 2.
As the Celtics held a 14-point lead, Porzingis exited the game with 8 minutes and 27 seconds left. In a surprising turn, the Knicks managed a 21-6 surge to snag a 91-90 victory.
It’s hard not to feel for the former Knicks player. “I’m just dealing with something—I can’t exactly name it, but I’m not at my best,” Porzingis remarked after the game. “What’s happening right now is really weighing on me. I appreciate the support from the fans. But in this tough moment, I can’t be there for my teammates; I feel off.”
Porzingis has been battling this illness since the regular season concluded, but it has been particularly challenging during this second-round series. He had impressive moments previously, racking up 21 minutes in the Celtics’ opening playoff round win.
Contrastingly, he only managed 12 minutes and 58 seconds in Game 1 against the Knicks, all in the first half, recording four rebounds but failing to score. Although deemed “highly likely” to play in Game 2, he didn’t start. He did appear throughout the quarters, contributing eight points and four rebounds.
His absence has definitely impacted the Knicks’ two surprising wins, particularly since the Celtics’ both offense and defense have shifted in his absence.
Al Horford played all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter on Wednesday but only scored two points from six attempts, looking stretched with Porzingis sidelined. Horford also added five points in the second half of Game 1.
Reflecting on the recent games, Porzingis said, “We’ve had our ups and downs, and now it feels like we’ve hit a wall. My energy wasn’t great but I have to stay positive—it should improve.”
Unfortunately for the Celtics, they might struggle to use Porzingis effectively for the remainder of this series.
There’s a possibility that the recent games played a role in his limited performance; after all, he had previously lit up the Knicks for 34 points just last month.
“It’s frustrating for sure,” Porzingis said.
