Kristaps Porzingis Is Peaking at the Perfect Time—And That’s Bad News for the NBA. Kristaps Porzingis has officially put the league on notice. After battling a brutal viral illness that left him bedridden and uncertain about his return, the Celtics’ towering big man is back—and he’s better than ever. If his recent performances are any indication, Boston just became even more dangerous heading into the playoffs.
A Comeback Story Worth Watching
Porzingis admitted there was real concern over how long his illness lingered. Every time he worked out, the post-exercise crash left him drained and unsure when he’d return to full strength. But instead of easing back in, he hit the ground running. And his performances have been nothing short of elite.
In Friday night’s win over the Jazz, Porzingis dominated with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists while shooting an efficient 9-of-15 from the field, including 3-of-5 from deep. That’s the kind of stat line that makes Boston’s championship hopes even more realistic.
“I’m not feeling my best but just trying to maybe create a bit more, and that leads to more opportunities for myself and good looks,” Porzingis told NBC Sports Boston. “Today, I finally had a good shooting night also from the 3. Things are just clicking and trying to play free and play selfless.”
His Best Stretch of the Season?
Over the past three games, Porzingis has arguably been at his peak, averaging 25.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while shooting a scorching 61.4% from the field. Sure, the competition—two games against Brooklyn and one against Utah—wasn’t the toughest, but that doesn’t change the fact that he looks completely locked in.
What’s even more impressive? He’s doing all this immediately after missing eight straight games. Most players would need time to shake off the rust. Instead, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla threw Porzingis into the deep end, playing him the entire fourth quarter in his first game back. No warm-up needed.
The Celtics’ Secret Weapon
The Celtics are being smart with Porzingis, especially as they navigate a tough six-game road trip. Thankfully, the schedule has provided enough rest between games, helping him recover fully. But with a back-to-back coming up, he’ll likely get some load management. And Boston can afford that luxury—they’re comfortably sitting near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
The truth is, Porzingis makes this team nearly unstoppable. Last season, Boston won the championship with him only playing seven playoff games. They still managed to go 64-18 in the regular season and steamrolled their way through the playoffs with a 16-3 record. Now? The competition is even tougher. Boston will need all hands on deck, and a fully healthy Porzingis could be the X-factor that puts them over the top.
Playoff Mode: Activated
Porzingis knows what’s at stake. “It’s going to be one of our longest road trips,” he said. “We want to have a good, good road trip even though it’s maybe not the highest-quality teams we’re going to play against. We want to show up and not play down to maybe the competition. Good to start with a win and want to keep it going.”
If he can stay healthy—a big “if” given his injury history—Boston might have just unlocked its full potential at the perfect time. The rest of the NBA should be very, very worried.
