By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Any fan tuning in for the 2024 NBA Finals without following the earlier stages of the Playoffs Presented by Google Pixel would certainly struggle to guess that Kristaps Porzingis sat on the injury list of the Boston Celtics through the Semifinals and Finals of the Eastern Conference.
Bouncing back from a right soleus strain, the Latvian big tallied 20 points in Game 1 against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.
“It was not ideal that I was out for such a long time. I did everything I could to prepare mentally for this moment, coming back,” he mentioned after the opener of a best-of-seven series.
Coming off the bench for the second time since moving his talents to North America in 2015 was another story. Scoring 18 points in the first half, he was an immediate fit for the adjusted role under head coach Joe Mazzulla.
Limited to 14 appearances in the Playoffs over a nine-year NBA career, he elevated directly to the Finals, from first-round exits with the Mavs in 2020 and 2021, and helping the C’s eliminate the Miami Heat in the opening round before his latest injury.
“I have been doing this for a long time. Even if I have time off, I can jump right back in and I feel the same way. I get to my spots and do so, whether it is Playoffs or Regular Season or whatever,” he said, “I know how to do this.”
Staying in TD Garden, Game 2 is on Sunday.