Kristaps Porzingis Discusses Celtics’ Approach to Recovery from Illness Amid Playoff Readiness and Balancing Minutes Ahead of Six-Game Road Trip…
Kristaps Porzingis highlights the Boston Celtics’ approach as he recovers from illness…
In his second game back from illness, Kristaps Porzingis looked like his usual dominant self. Facing the Nets—the same team he excelled against days earlier—Porzingis delivered an impressive performance on Tuesday, tallying 25 points and 13 rebounds.
Although he played slightly fewer minutes (29) than in his first game back (31), his return raises questions about how the Celtics will manage his playing time for the remainder of the season. With a 50-19 record and 13 games left, Boston is comfortably in second place in the Eastern Conference. Catching the first-place Cavaliers or being overtaken by the third-place Knicks seems unlikely, reducing the urgency to overwork their stars—evident as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown sat out Tuesday’s game. However, Porzingis expressed his eagerness to play as much as possible.
“I definitely want to play,” Porzingis stated. “I need to reach my best shape. After the illness, it’s been a process, but I’m improving every day. The schedule is actually working in my favor with gaps between games, giving me time to recover and prepare for the postseason.”
Reintegrating Porzingis into the lineup is crucial for the Celtics heading into the playoffs. His two-way impact was on full display Tuesday, as he contributed not only offensively but also defensively with three blocks.
Additionally, Porzingis missed the first month of the season while rehabbing a foot injury from the NBA Finals. Having played only 34 games this season, he is working to increase his on-court activity. The Celtics, however, must strike a balance—allowing him to regain form while ensuring he remains fresh and healthy for the playoffs.
As Boston embarks on a six-game road trip against Western Conference opponents, Porzingis is focused on winning.
“We expect to win every game,” he said. “There have been very few games this season where we weren’t favored. I’m not sure what the betting odds will say, but our goal is to go 6-0 and come back home strong.”
