Unicorn sighting: the return of Kristaps Porzingis

The Celtics seven-game homestand was billed as an opportunity to make a press release to the league. With a slew of contenders coming to TD Backyard, all comers for the throne must see how they measured as much as the champs. And whereas a 5-2 file that included wins towards the Nuggets and Lakers was notable, the absence of Kristaps Porzingis in shut losses to convention leaders Cleveland and Oklahoma Metropolis produced some guarded optimism that with the large man, the outcomes may need been completely different.

And after such a constructive output in his first recreation again towards the Nets, you’d be hard-pressed to not assume that we may very well be taking a look at a nine-game profitable streak.

Whereas his three-point accuracy was off (1-for-7 at Barclays), he scored in a wide range of methods, together with dribble drives, slipping out of pick-and-rolls, chopping off ball, and taking pictures over mismatches.

“At first, I felt a bit of bit out of rhythm,” Porzingis instructed NBC Sports activities Boston’s Abby Chin. “I’m not gonna lie. The primary few photographs had been a bit brick-y. However as the sport went on, I felt higher and higher. I’m comfortable to be again.”

Porzingis completed with 24 factors, two rebounds, and a block.

“I’m not feeling in form but. It’s been powerful these final couple of weeks, however in these type of moments, you simply gotta chunk down and produce one thing from deep. That’s what I try to do and I’m comfortable we obtained the win,” Porzingis mentioned.

After the sport, head coach Joe Mazzulla credited Porzingis for his constructive angle and “optimism” regardless of a troublesome common season together with his return initially delayed by a prolonged restoration from surgical procedure and most lately, an prolonged absence with a virus.

Porzingis mentioned that it was the sickest that he’s ever been in his life — with mononucleosis as a attainable early analysis that was later dominated out — and that the virus progressed to one thing like bronchitis. With simply fourteen video games left till the playoffs begin on the finish of April, he’s doing the whole lot he can to get into recreation form — together with some “biohacking stuff that I do know.”

He performed 32 minutes towards the Nets together with your entire fourth quarter when he led the group with 14 factors. And after being “extraordinarily, extraordinarily annoyed not understanding what [he] had,” his efficiency on Saturday reminds the Celtics what they’ve in him and is simply one other reminder that of all the nice gamers on the roster, Porzingis is by far probably the most x-factor-y of all of them.

However even after such a robust displaying, there may all the time be a cloud of mysticism surrounding the Unicorn. Boston didn’t appear to wish him within the playoffs final yr and if you happen to’re a tough numbers fan, it’s exhausting to disregard that with Al Horford within the beginning lineup, the Celtics are a +18.9 higher in internet score.

Nonetheless, the 2 #1 seeds within the East and West each area two large frontcourts of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen and Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein respectively. And regardless of the stats not being in his favor and his uncertainty of his availability, the attention check final evening exhibits you simply how a lot he tilts the scales.