Derrick White passed the ball to Kristaps Porzingis at the elbow, where he began sizing up Josh Green. The 7-foot-2 big man backed down the helpless 6-foot-5 guard, then rose up and buried a smooth 16-footer.
As Jason Kidd called a timeout, Porzingis high-fived White, let out a triumphant scream, and skipped to the bench with a broad, bright smile. He was back, and his calf was just fine, thanks to an extra boost from the fans.
“What helped me is just even from the walk out before the game and then getting on the court, getting that kind of support was unreal,” the big man said after the game. “The adrenaline was pumping through my veins, and that definitely helped.”
Game 1 was unique for Porzingis. Not only was it his first taste of the NBA Finals against a team that shipped him out of town, but it was also the first time he had come off the bench in over seven years – a role he embraced wholeheartedly.
“From day one, I came here, and I said like I’ll do whatever it takes to help this team win, right? I think it was -- this situation made sense. I didn’t care,” Porzingis said. “I knew I could prepare to come off the bench, which is something different for me, and that’s what I did. Stepped into that role and embraced it, and had a good game.”
Having missed the last six weeks due to a calf strain suffered in Game 4 of Boston’s first-round series against the Heat, the Celtics and Porzingis were uncertain about his condition. Information on the injury had been sparse since it occurred, and the week leading up to the Finals was no different. When asked earlier this week if he was running pain-free, he paused for nine seconds before answering with a smile, “Yes.”
However, Porzingis made one thing abundantly clear: his availability for Game 1. He was going to play, and although it came in a different fashion than usual, his impact on the game was undeniable.
It was a one-point game when Porzingis checked in at the 7:17 mark of the first quarter. By the end of the frame, the lead was up to 17, and the 7-foot-2 Latvian was right in the middle of it all – finishing with 11 points, three rebounds, and two blocks. He joined Shaq and LeBron James as only the third player to have at least 11 points and two blocks in the first quarter of an NBA finals game since 1996.
“He was just making play after play, and it was just like, all right, he’s back, there was no question about it then,” Jaylen Brown said. “We need some more that have going forward for the rest of this series.”
There was no sign of rust from Porzingis. In 20:34 minutes of work in Game 1, he finished with 20 points on 8-of-13 (61.5%) shooting, six boards, and three blocks. He made his presence felt on both ends of the floor with his ability to stretch the floor and score from all three levels on the offensive end and his elite rim protection on the defensive end.
“Kristaps had a monster game for us, and just his presence shooting the ball and then him being able to attack those switches and mismatches, he made ’em pay every time, and that’s what we need going forward in the series,” Brown added.
“I think Kristaps has been great for us all season long. I think he’s a big reason why we’ve been the best team in basketball record-wise, at least, and having him back and him playing well and to that level he was during the season is so important for us because you got another defender, another shooter, out there that you have to respect. So that just opens it up for everybody else.”
What Porzingis pulled off was no small feat. After being sidelined for 38 days, he made his comeback on the biggest stage—the NBA Finals—facing the bright lights and physicality that come with it. Adding to the challenge, it had been 2,695 days since his last game coming off the bench back on January 19, 2017. Yet, he changed the game immediately, helping build a 29-point first-half lead, which proved insurmountable for Dallas.
“We’re a good team when guys are down, but we’re really, really special when we have everybody,” Jayson Tatum said. “How seamless his transition was after being away for six, seven weeks, and coming into the game and having a first half like that, that was a big spark for us to start the game.”
Game 1 was yet another occasion that surely had Brad Stevens beaming from his perch in the luxury box. It reaffirmed why he had coveted a player of Porzingis’ caliber, considering him the team’s final puzzle piece.
“He was unreal today, and it’s nice to have him back,” Derrick White said.
“He’s a matchup nightmare. Even when you play good defense, he doesn’t really see you. It’s been unreal just watching him all year. Then, defensively, he uses his size well; he just impacts the games in so many different ways. He changes us, and he makes us a better team.”
Porzingis faces few limitations on the basketball court, earning the nickname “The Unicorn” for good reason. He’s a rare breed, excelling in various facets of the game. Whether dominating in the post, sinking threes from all over the floor, threatening with alley-oops, or protecting the rim, he’s a force to be reckoned with. Celtics fans must’ve felt confident with their chances in these NBA Finals witnessing his return in Game 1 after injury, especially considering their impressive 9-1 record without him this postseason.
“I think you guys got a pretty clear picture of that throughout the season, when we were healthy for most of that, how we played, and how effective we were on both ends. KP had a big hand in that and the success that we had this season,” Tatum said. “Obviously, getting hurt in the playoffs, we had to figure it out. We had to adjust and play different lineups and whatever. 12-2 up to that point, we did a really good job. But it is a relief to have him back because we know we’re a much better team when he’s back.”
There is still plenty of work to be done. Don’t forget, the Celtics won Game 1 against the Warriors in 2022 and wound up losing the series. However, they didn’t have a guy like Porzingis, a player who acts as a get-out-of-jail-free card when the Celtics need it most. Game 1 was a reminder of his special talent and why he is viewed as the final piece of the puzzle, which is Banner 18.
“He was great on both ends of the floor, defensive execution, game plan, playing for a spot in the offensive end, being physical, and making plays on both ends of the floor,” Mazzulla said. “That’s the KP that helped us get to where we are today.”
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