BOSTON — Kristaps Porzingis struggled by means of sickness within the Celtics’ 91-90 loss to the Knicks, restricted to simply 14 minutes off the bench two nights after he exited within the second quarter of Recreation 1.
“I’m simply not feeling my finest — not feeling my finest in any respect,” Porzingis stated after the Recreation 2 loss. “It simply kills me inside it’s taking place on this second.”
Joe Mazzulla shared at apply on Tuesday that Porzingis has been coping with linger signs from an sickness that saved him out of 11 video games in late February and early March.
“Since he got here again, he’s sort of been coping with it — working by means of it, preventing by means of it, doing the very best he can,” Mazzulla stated. “And I feel it was simply an excessive amount of for him in that recreation. He had been working by means of it since he’s gotten again, and he’s performed a fantastic job of being obtainable. It was simply arduous for him to proceed yesterday.”
And, whereas Porzingis was in the end in a position to go on Wednesday, his minutes and influence had been each severely restricted.
“What I’m tremendous appreciative about is the help that I’ve inside — additionally in all probability from the followers — however particularly right here, contained in the group, and having this robust second for me to not have the ability to be with the blokes,” Porzingis stated. “It’s not no harm or nothing, however simply not feeling my finest. It’s robust for me, truthfully, however who cares? No one feels sorry for us, sorry for me, and we have now to maintain going.”
Porzingis stated what he was at the moment experiencing was “in all probability” linked to the higher respiratory sickness he handled in late February.
“I’ve had ups and downs all through till this level,” Porzingis stated. “Simply had an enormous crash. Now, my vitality, the whole lot hasn’t been good. However, who cares? I’ve to look ahead. It’s going to get higher from this level on.”
Porzingis scored 8 factors on 3-5 taking pictures and grabbed 4 rebounds. It was simply the fifth time in his profession that he got here off the bench.
