Mazzulla gives new Kristaps Porzingis update after sudden exit in Game 1 vs. Knicks

BOSTON --- After Boston Celtics practice on Tuesday afternoon, Joe Mazzulla provided a new update on Kristaps Porzingis, who left Game 1 against the New York Knicks on Monday night with an illness. "He's a little bit better," Mazzulla said of Porzingis. "We'll see how he feels. Just kind of day-to-day."

Porzingis exited Game 1 mid-way through the second quarter and was absent from the Celtics' bench throughout most of the rest of the period. He briefly came back out to the floor during halftime, but Al Horford started the third quarter in his place. Celtics PR ruled him questionable to return with a non-Covid illness, but he did not come back into the game.

Now, though the big man is day-to-day

Is Kristaps Porzingis' current illness related to his previous issue?

Earlier this season, Porzingis missed eight games with an undisclosed illness. When asked if his current illness is related, Mazzulla said, "I have no idea." However, later on Mazzulla noted that Porzingis has been "working through it since he's gotten back."

On March 10, Porzingis provided an update on the injury he was dealing with at the time:

"I have been dealing with some viral illness that we haven't been able to fully identify yet," Porzingis wrote on Twitter. "I am recovering and getting better. But still working my way back to full strenght to help this team. Thanks for support and Im hoping for a healthy return soon. 🙏💚."

What does losing Kristaps Porzingis mean for Celtics?

Porzingis' ability to space the floor is crucial for bending the Knicks' defense. If they choose to play Karl-Anthony Towns or Mitchell Robinson in drop defense, then Porzingis can step back behind the three-point line to make them pay with open threes.

And if New York decides to stay with Porzingis and take away his three-point shot, likely by switching, the ball-handler (usually Jayson Tatum) will get a one-on-one in a matchup against a big man. He thrives in those situations.

It's been a brutal playoff run for Kristaps Porzingis

Before he went out in the second quarter, Porzingis was struggling. He shot 0-of-4 from the floor. Porzingis did manage to snag four offensive rebounds, but two of them came on the same possession, when he missed three shots in a row at the rim.

The struggles came on the back of the Orlando Magic series, in which Porzingis also struggled mightily. Orlando's physicality seems to really bother him, especially when he was getting the post looks he usually thrives on.