When the season started, the idea was that Kristaps Porzingis would return to the ground someday in December.
As Porzingis continued to make progress following ankle surgical procedure in late June, it turned clear that he could also be again prior to anticipated. On Monday – sure, in late November, effectively forward of schedule – the Celtics introduced that Porzingis was formally accessible.
He offered a spark in opposition to the Clippers, contributing 16 factors on 6-of-12 capturing, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal in 23 minutes and steering the Celtics to a 126-94 win at TD Backyard. The Celtics (15-3) have now gained six straight after snapping the Clippers’ (11-8) five-game win streak with an entire effort.
“It has been killing me inside not to have the ability to be on the market, but it surely was well worth the wait,” Porzingis informed NBC Sports activities Boston’s Abby Chin.
Payton Pritchard and Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 20 factors every, with Pritchard ending plus-30 in a blinding show. Ivica Zubac paced the Clippers with 23 factors and 10 boards.
Boston shot 51.1 p.c from the ground and 43.1 p.c from 3-point vary, connecting on 22 3-pointers and racking up 33 assists.
Porzingis wasted no time firing away, lacking a 3-pointer on the Celtics’ first possession and making a 3 on the following. He instantly made his presence felt defensively, utilizing his size to change pictures on the rim and offering an inside presence the Celtics have lacked for a lot of the season. Porzingis appeared a bit rusty at occasions, however he was his typical lively and disruptive self nearly all of the night time.
“I did have a pair flat tires on some lobs,” Porzingis mentioned. “ … I believe with every sport, I’m solely going to seek out my rhythm extra.”
The Celtics, enjoying with out Al Horford and Luke Kornet, used Porzingis within the excessive choose and roll early and infrequently. That organically yielded open seems to be for shooters within the corners and on the wings.
Boston used a 14-5 flurry to tug forward and took a 27-20 lead into the second. Tatum led the way in which with 9 factors, 7 rebounds and a pair of assists within the quarter, and Neemias Queta added 5 boards off the bench. Each groups shot beneath 40 p.c within the quarter.
Then, with Brad Stevens on the published within the second quarter, the Celtics resembled precisely the kind of staff he envisioned as he constructed the roster. Stevens joked that Porzingis appeared like a man who hadn’t performed shortly, then famous that when the Celtics noticed him transfer effectively in Abu Dhabi, that they had a hunch he’d return forward of schedule.
The Celtics made 12 threes within the 2nd quarter tonight, tying the NBA file for threes in 1 / 4.
— Celtics Stats (@celtics_stats) November 26, 2024
Stevens appeared on because the Celtics tied an NBA file for 3’s in any quarter ever with 12. They began six of six, with Pritchard and Sam Hauser doing a lot of the harm.
“This man loves basketball a lot,” Stevens mentioned of Pritchard. “He works as arduous as anyone I’ve ever been round.”
Jaylen Brown (17 factors) then exploded for 10 factors in 73 seconds – connecting on a 4-point play, and and-one and a 3 again to again to again. Brown then discovered Porzingis for a signature “Cookies and Cream” alley-oop that despatched the group right into a frenzy.
Zubac and James Harden (19 factors, 9 assists) have been regular for the Clippers, however the Celtics had method an excessive amount of firepower for Los Angeles to deal with. Boston shot 52.9 p.c from the ground, 47.1 p.c from 3 and assisted on 18 of 27 area objectives within the half. The Celtics additionally out-rebounded a sometimes bodily Clippers staff, 26-19.
Boston construct a commanding 78-49 halftime lead, erupting for 51 factors within the second quarter – the third-most factors in 1 / 4 in franchise historical past.
“I believe our tempo is unimaginable proper now,” Pritchard informed Chin at halftime. “I believe that is our greatest sport so far as our tempo, getting up and down. Even after makes, we’re enjoying fast, and it’s permitting us to get straightforward catch-and-shoot 3’s. After we’re doing that, we’re one of the best within the enterprise.”
Boston had 51 factors within the 2nd, tied for essentially the most in franchise historical past within the 2nd quarter. Solely twice in NBA historical past has a staff scored extra within the 2nd, Phoenix vs. Denver in 1990 (57) and Bullets vs. Detroit in 1965 (52)
— Dick Lipe (@DickLipe) November 26, 2024
The Clippers trimmed the deficit to 84-67 halfway via the third, however Porzingis helped the Celtics reclaim momentum with a powerful take and end on the rim. Pritchard buried back-to-back 3’s, as Boston took a 99-78 edge into the fourth.
Derrick White (19 factors, 7 assists) splashed a 3 to increase the margin to 108-81 with 9:05 remaining. Queta threw down a thunderous slam, Jordan Walsh and White swatted pictures and Queta completed in site visitors to place the ending touches on a dominant win.
The Celtics have 4 days off, then will face the Bulls on Friday and Cavaliers on Sunday on the street.
