By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Kristaps Porzingis netting a season-high 35 points allowed the Boston Celtics to remain undefeated in the TD Garden over 15 games through the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season.
The team coached by Joe Mazzulla fell into a 21-point hole during the first half and trailed by six points in the final minute of regulation on Thursday. After forcing overtime, a confident display in the extra five minutes upped the overall record to a league-high 24-6.
“We knew that first half was really uncharacteristic for us and we had to turn it on in the second half,” mentioned the Latvian forward/center, “Our effort was just completely different in the second half.”
Porzingis, 28, connected 13/21 field goals, including three triples. Additional contributions translated into eight rebounds, one assist, and one steal. He is up to 20.3 points per game this season.
“This was a little bit of an example that when you are good it is easy to get complacent,” he furthered on the comeback against the Pistons, “That is maybe what happened to us in the first half after a long time being on the road, different time zone, all those excuses we can find.”
The Pistons neared a huge upset in Boston but were eventually forced to a 28th loss in a row, a new record for the most consecutive defeats in a single season.
“Definitely a valuable experience,” concluded Porzingis.
Completing a back-to-back with two home contests, the Celtics welcome the Toronto Raptors on Friday.