BOSTON — Doubt surrounded the availability of Kristaps Porzingis heading into Game 5 of the NBA Finals, but the Celtics gave their 7-footer the green light in a potential close-out duel on Monday night.
“Expect to see him tonight,” Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla said pregame.
When asked specifically whether or not a minutes restriction would be applied to the 28-year-old, Mazzulla was blunt.
“No,” Mazzulla replied.
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Therefore, when the starting center, who missed nearly 40 days of postseason action due to a calf injury, checked in at 6:49 in the first quarter, the reception Porzingis received from the TD Garden crowd came as no surprise. In fact, the boos generated from a Kyrie Irving missed shot or tease toward the crowd couldn’t compete.
“Kyrie sucks,” chants quickly became “KP,” chants, signaling the anticipation unloading after Porzingis had missed Games 3 and 4 of the series. Taking a 28-18 lead over the Mavericks after the first quarter, Porzingis scored one point — at the free-throw line — while also recording one rebound and a steal in six minutes off the bench.
Porzingis, like everyone except for teammate Jrue Holiday on the Celtics, is fighting for his first career NBA championship, and the record-setting 18th in Boston’s franchise history.
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Featured image via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
