The Boston Celtics secured a narrow 115-113 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night, marking their second victory in back-to-back games. The win improved their record to 49-19, bringing them closer to a fourth straight 50-win season.
A major boost for Boston was the return of Kristaps Porzingis, who had missed eight consecutive games due to illness. Despite his absence, he made an immediate impact, leading the Celtics with 24 points in 32 minutes, while Jayson Tatum added 20 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.
Porzingis was originally expected to return against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 8, even confirming his availability in an Instagram comment.
However, he was a last-minute scratch, leaving fans confused. After Saturday's game, he finally explained what happened.
"I tried to push my body the day before," Porzingis said. "The crash I had was, like, historic. The next day, I couldn't even get out of bed to go to shootaround... I was just so fatigued. I was like, I'm not gonna be a help out there."
Kristaps Porzingis said he really tried to play in the Lakers game:
"I tried to push my body the day before…the crash I had was, like, historic. The next day, I couldn't even get out the bed to go to shoot around."
"I was just so fatigued. I was like, I'm not gonna be a help…
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) March 16, 2025
Even without Porzingis, the Celtics managed to defeat their rivals, thanks to Jayson Tatum's 40-point performance and Jaylen Brown's 31 points.
While Boston performed well in his absence (6-2 record), Saturday's game was a reminder of how valuable Porzingis is to the team. The Latvian center is averaging 19.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists this season while shooting 47.7% from the field.
With Porzingis back, the Celtics are in a strong position heading into the playoffs, where they may face elite teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Related: Joe Mazzulla Sends Message After Kristaps Porzingis' Announcement
Related: Jayson Tatum Breaks Silence After Former Teammate Joins 76ers
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 5:13 AM.