NEW YORK — Kristaps Porziņģis pointed into the crowd after one clutch basket. He lifted his arms above his head after another. He puffed out his chest and stared at some fans after a third.
Finally, at the end of a long, frustrating road back from a viral illness, Porziņģis helped rescue Boston in the fourth quarter of a 115-113 win against the Brooklyn Nets. When the Celtics were looking at a bad loss, with Jaylen Brown hurting and Jayson Tatum on the bench for rest, Porziņģis answered a Nets charge with one of his own. In his return from an eight-game absence, he finished with 24 points over 31 minutes.
“It took me a while to be back,” Porziņģis said, “but I’m happy to be back now.”
After his first game since Feb. 26, Porziņģis detailed his long journey back from a mysterious illness. He said he still doesn’t know with certainty what sickness he dealt with, but believes he suffered from an upper respiratory issue that “turned into something heavier.” Though there was some fear he might have developed mononucleosis or something more severe, a series of tests ruled out that possibility. He believes he had bronchitis or something like it.
“I haven’t been this sick for probably ever in my life,” Porziņģis said. “So I was really, for a week really just laying at home trying to recover. And after that, I had lingering fatigue, and I still have it a little bit, but at least I’m now getting into shape to be able to play. But after each workout, I was boom, big crash. I was really, really fatigued. Like, not normal. So, yeah, it’s taking a little bit longer, but I’m doing everything, all my bio-hacking stuff that I know, and just trying to get back in the best shape possible.”
On Feb. 25, Porziņģis was ruled a late scratch moments before tipoff of a win against the Toronto Raptors. Though he played the following night in a loss to the Detroit Pistons, he missed the next eight games. He said he hoped to return last weekend against the Los Angeles Lakers, but his body’s response to a strenuous workout the day before that game eliminated the possibility.
“I was trying to push for the Lakers game, honestly,” Porziņģis said. “I wanted to come back. So I tried to push my body the day before and had a hard workout, but then the crash I had was, like, historic. The next day I couldn’t even get out of bed to go to shootaround. So I was like, ‘All right, now I’m going to lay down to try to get some more rest and maybe I can get going for tonight.’ Then I went to the arena and tried to get some shots up and I was so fatigued I’m like, ‘I’m not gonna be a help out there. I’m just gonna hurt the team if I push myself.’ That was my thinking process. As soon as I felt I was going to be able to help the team I would push it. But from that moment I was still not ready.”
KP is so back 💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/c1mUvksOPk
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 15, 2025
After responding better to recent workouts, including a hard one on Friday in Miami, Porziņģis felt more like himself on Saturday. The Celtics were thrilled to welcome back the 7-foot-3 center. Though he produced from the start, scoring two early baskets in his first stint, his most effective minutes came early in the fourth quarter. The Nets scored consistently enough throughout the second half to cut a 21-point Boston lead to three two minutes into the period, but Porziņģis responded with 10 straight Celtics points. He knocked down a short jump shot over Jalen Wilson; drew a foul in the post; beat the Nets to the hoop for a driving and-1; and spotted up for a pick-and-pop 3-pointer. He barely needed more than two minutes to complete the solo run, which left Boston with an eight-point lead.
Minutes later, Porziņģis followed two straight 3-point misses with a dunk over the top of Nets big man Day’Ron Sharpe. In the middle of the Porziņģis avalanche, he learned that he would play significantly more minutes than he anticipated. He said he initially thought he would return with a workload of about 20 minutes, but Joe Mazzulla informed the big man midway through the fourth quarter that he wouldn’t be subbing out again.
“He was like, ‘I’m not gonna take you out. So just bite down and let’s go,’” Porziņģis said. “So I said, ‘OK, let’s go.’ So I got some sugar in my system and just pushed through.”
The historical shot 👌🏻 pic.twitter.com/YnAnZJUMkj
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 16, 2025
The Celtics nearly let go of their lead by allowing 11 points over the final 1:26, but Payton Pritchard, who established a new NBA record for most 3-pointers off the bench in a single season, sank several key free throws to hold on. Simply suiting up again felt like a win for Porziņģis, who said he felt all right after the game.
“So far no crazy fatigue yet,” Porziņģis said. “I hope that’s it. But even if there is some (Sunday) I’ll do all my red light and the rest of the stuff I know helps me, and we have two days now I think until the next (game) so, perfect.”
Even with Al Horford resting on the second leg of a back-to-back, Porziņģis’ presence allowed the Celtics to play big lineups for much of their win in Brooklyn. He played eight minutes alongside Luke Kornet and another seven alongside Neemias Queta. When fully healthy, frontcourt flexibility will be one of Boston’s strengths. Horford has upped his play recently as if preparing for the postseason. Kornet has developed into one of the NBA’s better backup centers. With Queta another option in the middle, Mazzula has used double-big lineups effectively throughout the season.
Whether the lone big or one of two, Porziņģis changes the dynamic at center.
“We’re really looking forward to when we have everybody, but obviously we missed the big fella and what he brings,” said Jayson Tatum. “His presence on the offensive end really makes it tough for teams to switch us. When they do, we can punish them, so it was great to have him back.”
Porziņģis shot 7-for-8 from inside the paint Saturday night, taking advantage of smaller Nets defenders throughout the game. It didn’t take Boston long to involve the big man on offense. On their second possession of the game, Jrue Holiday found Porziņģis on a pick-and-roll for an inside bucket. Porziņģis attempted a pair of 3-pointers over the next two minutes. Though he missed them, the Celtics kept finding him. With 6:17 left in the opening quarter, he slammed home an and-1 dunk to give his team a 12-9 lead. He checked out a minute later for his first rest of the night.
Porziņģis checked back in to start the second quarter. Two minutes into his second stint, he had his first post-up opportunity of the game. He flashed to the middle of the paint, where he was easily able to create a short jumper over the top of defender D’Angelo Russell. Over 14 first-half minutes, Porziņģis finished with eight points on 4-for-7 shooting. Each of his four makes came from inside the paint as he continued a trend of returning from long absences like he never left.
“It just shows the skill set he has,” said Pritchard. “I mean, he’s a unicorn, so he’s an unreal player and obviously when we have him we’re just even more dangerous.”
This season has tested Porziņģis mentally as well as physically. He missed the first 17 games after offseason surgery to repair an ankle injury he suffered in the Finals. Shortly after returning, he twisted his ankle several times until one of the sprains forced him to miss another four games. The illness was just the latest setback. Mazzulla said he appreciates the optimism Porziņģis has carried throughout the trying campaign.
“We know we need him at his best,” Mazzulla said, “and he’s just gotta continue to do that.”
With 14 games left in the regular season, the Celtics hope to get some time with all their key players available. They didn’t have everyone available Saturday, with Derrick White also out and Brown (back spasm) leaving the game for good in the second quarter, but Porziņģis’ return brought joy to the Boston locker room.
“Honestly, I was not feeling perfect today, either, but I got in the mindset of I want to play and start to get back,” Porziņģis said. “Honestly, as the game went on, I felt better and better. I kind of had a little crash in the third but I pushed through it and in the fourth had a great fourth. Yeah, it was a close one, but I’m happy we got it done.”
(Photo: Elsa / Getty Images)
