Wednesday was a big day for Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis, who returned to TD Garden for the first time since the Boston Celtics traded him last summer. The 2024 NBA champion was honored with a video tribute and a warm reception from Celtics fans.
Once the game started, however, things didn't go so well for Porzingis. He and his teammates got steamrolled by Boston, losing by 21 points. He also struggled with his shot, scoring just 11 points on 4 of 13.
Still, the fact that he was playing at all is a big deal for him, as he's missed most of the season with injuries and has struggled to stay on the court this year.
After the game, Jayson Tatum opened up about facing his old teammate.
Jayson Tatum on playing against Kristaps Porzingis:
"It was cool, man. I miss the big fella. Happy to see him healthy, happy to see him out there playing. It was cool to see the reception that he got tonight and his tribute video… He'll forever be a Celtic and remembered for… pic.twitter.com/A5wxJ7S9Be
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) March 19, 2026
"It was cool, man. I miss the big fella. Happy to see him healthy, happy to see him out there playing. It was cool to see the reception that he got tonight and his tribute video," Tatum said during his postgame press conference. "He'll forever be a Celtic and remembered for those two years, and obviously being a big piece of why we won a championship. Every guy that was on that championship team, we're bonded for life, so it's always good to see KP."
The respect was mutual, as Porzingis praised Tatum as well and was impressed by his recovery from last spring's Achilles injury.
"He looks good, honestly. His shot was falling already. Looks like he’s not rusty at all," Porzingis told reporters after the game. "Just looked a little heavy, that’s all. He needs to lose a couple pounds and he’ll be flying again."
It's been a tough year for both players, but they're both healthy now and looking to finish the season strong over the next few weeks.
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