Kristaps Porzingis came off the bench in a regular season game for the first time since 2017 on Friday night in a 134-133 Hawks’ loss to the Nuggets in Atlanta.
The former Celtics center was cleared to play for the Hawks for the first time since Nov. 25 after missing four games due to illness. Facing a minutes limit of 20, Quinn Snyder opted to move Porzingis into an unfamiliar bench role rather than making into his usual starting spot at center.
“Obviously, it’s not what I love, you know?” Porzingis told reporters in Atlanta. “But I think it makes sense in limited minutes, and I will do whatever is best for the team. When I say those words, I really mean it. I’m here just to help this team win.”
Porzingis made the most of his new role in the loss, scoring 25 points off the bench on 9-of-13 shooting, his third-best scoring performance of the season. However, it was just his 13th appearance of the season with his new team after an offseason trade from Boston. He’s missed time already this year with multiple illnesses, however they do not appear to be related to what he dealt with in Boston in the final months of last season.
“I wouldn’t say it’s the same thing,” Porzingis said. “Just wasn’t feeling too good, honestly. Just not being healthy, but I wouldn’t say it’s the same stuff from last season. That’s good.
“I think I kind of put that behind me even this summer playing for the national team. Anyway, just catching whatever, it’s frustrating. I want to be healthy. I want to be healthy and I will be healthy.”
The Hawks currently sit at 13-11 in the midst of a three-game losing streak and are 1.5 games back of the Celtics in the standings. The Celtics will face off against their former teammate for the first time this year on January 17 in Atlanta.