After the Boston Celtics' season-saving win in Game 5 on Wednesday night, Joe Mazzulla explained the decision that turned the game on its head: Starting Luke Kornet in place of Kristaps Porzingis in the second half. However, the origins of the choice have a much bleaker foundation than the results: "I mean, he couldn't breathe," Mazzulla said of Porzingis. "He was available if absolutely necessary. So, that was just a decision between me and him. It was kind of just difficulty breathing.
"But he wanted to be out there, and if we absolutely needed him, we would have been able to go to him and rely on him.
Porzingis dealt with an undisclosed injury that sidelined him for eight games from the end of February to the beginning of March. He returned in mid-March, but the remnants of the ailment have been plaguing him throughout the postseason.
The change that changed everything
The Latvian big man played more minutes than Kornet in the first half (and struggled mightily). Kornet didn't see a single second of action in the second quarter, but when the third quarter rolled around, he got the start in place of Porzingis.
In the third quarter alone, Kornet racked up five blocks, completely changing the outlook of the game with his presence around the rim on defensive and ability to create plays for his team on offense.
The Knicks had no answer for his shot-blocking, and he ended the night with 10 points, nine rebounds, one assist, one steal, and seven blocks.
What went wrong with Kristaps Porzingis?
Porzingis struggled his way through his first-half minutes, failing to churn out effective play on either end of the floor.
On defense, he wasn't able to compete with Mitchell Robinson on the glass. The Knicks big man dominated him down low, and on multiple occasions, Kornet played help defense and was then forced into a rebound battle against Robinson because Porzingis couldn't bang with him in the paint. Porzingis finished the game with just one rebound - a ball that landed in his hands after a missed New York free throw.
Meanwhile, he shot 0-of-3 on offense, including 0-of-2 from behind the three-point line. He finished the game with one point after going 1-of-2 at the charity stripe.
Obviously, Porzingis' illness was flaring up, as it has been throughout the entire postseason, but regardless, the change of rolling Kornet into the game was a lifesaver for Boston.