Kristaps Porzingis’ injury nearly became the biggest nightmare from last Saturday’s loss to the Grizzlies. Sam Hauser also fell with an adductor strain that night while Jrue Holiday’s shooting struggles dominated the headlines following a rare Celtics loss. A major second quarter scare, Porzingis turning the same left ankle he underwent surgery on in June, would’ve become the story of the night if he couldn’t return to only his fifth game back.
Instead, he returned for the third quarter as a major component of the offense. He finished with 19 points and followed that up with 19 more against Detroit on Thursday, feeling no ill effects after a four-day gap between both games. Porzingis is averaging 20.3 points per game with similar numbers across the board despite a decline in shooting from 51.6% FG to 45.7% (his three-pointer dipped from 37.5% to 33.3%). With the same roster mostly back from last year, it took little time to reintegrate into the lineup on both ends, but he admitted it’ll take him a few more games to return to his full conditioning level.
“I’m getting there,” he said. “I’m always better when I’m in a rhythm of games … we have three days off, it takes me one game to open up my lungs a little bit more, but also, during the summer, I was three months without being able to go up-and-down and get some really good cardio in. That plays a role also. I think a couple more games and I’ll be where I need to be.”
Porzingis played only 22 minutes in his debut before reaching 32 one week later, with limited restrictions outside of the back-to-backs Boston already rested him in last season. He logged a season high 33 minutes despite going to the locker room against Memphis, and saw 30 more before Boston sat its starters early with a large lead over the Pistons.
Re-injury following his surgery wasn’t a significant concern, and it factored into the decision to allow him to play the second half after tweaking his ankle. The Celtics benefited immensely from his quick start, rising to first in the NBA in shooting efficiency allowed within five feet of the basket (58.3%) after a 23rd-ranked start without him (65.6%).
Boston shifted its scheme back to a drop-heavy look, though that’s made them more susceptible to the three. The Celtics have allowed 2.9 fewer points per 100 possessions this year with Porzingis on the floor compared to off, but opponents have shot 2.3 eFG% better.
Porzingis will start on Sunday against his former Wizards team in Washington with Al Horford resting. Then, Boston is off until Thursday and Saturday’s home-and-home with Chicago.
“The easy part is transitioning back to playing with these guys,” Porzingis said. “The hard part, obviously, is the physical aspect, to get back in that NBA rhythm … it’s hard to imitate that in practice. I feel like I’m getting there for sure, but still have a little way to go. I think that’s gonna show more in a little bit of precision … more offensive rebounding, more energy, cutting, these smaller things that might not be as noticeable, but I will know that I’m doing more of those … soon, I think I’ll be able to step a few levels up in how I play.”
