The version of Kristaps Porzingis the Boston Celtics got on Wednesday night at TD Garden is a significant step in the direction of the one they'll need to repeat as NBA champions.
Granted, that's coming from a starting point of scoring five points on 1/8 shooting in Boston's playoff-opening win over the Orlando Magic.
But in the Celtics' 109-100 victory in Game 2, his aggression outweighed his lack of efficiency -- 5/14 from the field and 0/5 from beyond the arc. Porzingis' approach earned him 14 free-throw attempts, the most in the matchup. He produced 10 of his 20 points at the foul line.
The seven-foot-two center also corraled 10 rebounds, tying Jaylen Brown and Al Horford for a game-high. And he swatted a pair of shots and swiped two steals.
As Porzingis battled for a defensive rebound, he was left bloodied on the parquet by an inadvertent elbow to the forehead from Magic center Goga Bitadze.
Kristaps Porzingis was bleeding from his head after an elbow from Goga Bitadze.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 24, 2025
Bitadze was called for a flagrant 1 foul. pic.twitter.com/64nmKwESQZ
The Latvian native with a flare for the dramatics relished the moment, utilizing it to fire up the TD Garden faithful.
Listen to the crowd as Kristaps Porzingis checks back in with a bandage on his face pic.twitter.com/ddqcfh2bTq
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) April 24, 2025
"I love my WWE moments for sure," said Porzingis post-game of a laceration that required five stitches. "It just happens in the game. And you know me, I always love engaging with the crowd. And I already knew, getting hit again, blood again, the crowd was going to go with it. It was cool. It was fun."
"KP battled all night," said Brown. "He had physical possessions, timely baskets, and he probably left a couple [of] baskets that he had on the table. But he came out and competed, and that's what we want to see. Even through injury, even through blood everywhere, I feel like that fires up KP even more. So, we're looking to get him going on these road games because I feel like he can change a series at any time."
Porzingis's perspective molded by a career filled with peaks and valleys
Even when he returned with his forehead bandaged, the former All-Star was able to play to the crowd and maintain focus to contribute to the finishing touches on a win that has Boston halfway to the second round of the playoffs.
"He has an innate ability to take things very serious[ly], but at the same time, have [a] great perspective," conveyed Joe Mazzulla after the victory. "I think he can control his environment really well. How he handles the crowd, how he handles the physicality."
When asked about that balance, Porzingis shared, "I think because in my career, I've had a lot of ups, but I've had a lot of downs. I've been out with injuries, and so when I have the actual moments to play basketball, I try to enjoy it to the fullest. I'm smiling, I'm having fun, I'm trying to engage with the fans.
"So, it comes pretty naturally to me, especially playing here in Boston, getting this love. For me, [there's] no better place to do it. The biggest stage and getting all this love. This is what I dreamed of, and especially with my history, I enjoy every moment on the floor to the fullest."