In the very arena where he was once adored, Kristaps Porzingis showcased his talent, playing a pivotal role in leading the Boston Celtics to a hard-fought victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, with a final score of 108-104.
Since his trade request from the Knicks back in 2018, Porzingis has endured relentless booing and heckling from fans, a reception that has only intensified now that he’s a part of one of the Knicks’ biggest rivals. During a play where he was grappling for a rebound with Isaiah Hartenstein and inadvertently made contact with his face, Knicks fans chanted “F**k Porzingis!” as the referees reviewed the incident. However, none of these reactions could deter his performance.
In his debut with the Celtics, Porzingis excelled on both ends of the court. He tallied an impressive 30 points on 8-15 shooting, along with eight rebounds and four blocks. Late in the game, he embarked on a personal 7-0 scoring run, propelling Boston into the lead. He also calmly sank a pair of free throws, extending their advantage from two points to four with just 29.0 seconds remaining. His ability to stretch the floor with deep shooting, vertical play, and rim protection makes the Celtics a significantly more formidable team.
Despite the challenging reception, Kristaps Porzingis embraced the chants and the spirited atmosphere at Madison Square Garden. According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, he found it enjoyable and used it as motivation to make crucial plays down the stretch.
“The crowd chanting that for me, it was fun,” Porzingis expressed. “I was just enjoying that and kind of using that as motivation, motivation to make some big plays at the end. It was really, really fun to play in that type of environment.”
Even after becoming one of the most polarizing figures in New York following his departure, Porzingis continues to hold the Knicks and their fans in high regard. With his return to the Atlantic Division, he will face the Knicks three more times, with his next game at MSG scheduled for February 24.
The Celtics have high aspirations following the acquisitions of Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, who delivered a solid performance highlighted by staunch defense and three blocks. Jayson Tatum added 34 points and 11 rebounds to further bolster the team’s effort. Boston fans will have the opportunity to witness Porzingis’ home debut as the Celtics take on the Miami Heat this upcoming Friday.
