Kristaps Porzingis made a triumphant return to the Boston Celtics lineup after being sidelined for a month following ankle surgery. In his season debut against the Los Angeles Clippers, the 7-foot-2 Latvian showed off his defensive prowess with a highlight-reel block and thrilled the crowd with an alley-oop dunk. Porzingis finished the game with 16 points, six rebounds, and two blocks in just 23 minutes of play, helping the Celtics secure a 126-94 win.
The surgery in June to repair a tear in the tissue holding his ankle tendons had limited Porzingis to just seven playoff games during the Celtics’ championship run last season. He had been eager to return to the court and started feeling game-ready about a month ago. His presence was sorely missed on the inside, with the team often being outscored in the paint without him.
Celtics coach Mazzulla praised Porzingis for his defensive impact, noting that his shot-blocking ability helped the team rally around the ball and contribute to their 11 blocks in the game. Porzingis’ return was earlier than expected, with the initial timeline for his recovery being five to six months. He played a key role in the Celtics’ title-winning performance in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.
Teammates and fans were excited to see Porzingis back on the court and believe his presence will make the team more complete moving forward. With his return, the Celtics look to continue their strong start to the season and further solidify their championship aspirations.
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