In an elimination game, the Boston Celtics only played center Kristaps Porzingis 12 minutes on Wednesday against the New York Knicks. Porzingis had limited playing time and finished with one point, one rebound and one block. However, the big man did not finish the game. Fortunately for the Celtics, they outlasted the Knicks, 127-102, to force a Game 6.
The Celtics were carried by two-way guard Derrick White, who had 34 points on 53.8 percent shooting from deep. White also performed well on the defensive end with his three blocks. All-Star forward Jaylen Brown added 26 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists. Even without Jayson Tatum, who’s ruled out due to a torn right Achilles tendon, Boston proved why they’re the defending champions.
Porzingis has played the entire series. However, his minutes has been limited, even in Game 5, due to a viral respiratory illness he sustained in February. Until now, the one-time All-Star is experiencing the effects. After their win, head coach Joe Mazzulla revealed a crucial update on Porzingis.
“He couldn’t breathe,” Mazzulla said.
The head coach said that it was a decision between himself and the Latvian big man.
“That was just a decision between me and him,” Mazzulla added. “He was having difficulties breathing. But he wanted to be out there, and if we absolutely needed him, we would have been able to go to him and rely on him.”
His health issues have prevented him from spending heavy minutes on the floor with the Celtics.
Fans react to the health update on the Boston Celtics big man
Porzingis is a significant part of the Boston Celtics’ success this year. Without him, the team’s interior defense suffers. After the update from Mazzulla, fans revealed their concern for the European center.
“Respect to KP for fighting to be available for his guys despite battling something serious,” a fan said.
“If Kristaps Porzingis couldn’t breathe, benching him was the only call,” another fan commented.
“I hope he can breathe Friday,” one comment read.
Kornet better
I hope he can breathe Friday
— Chris Reilly (@C_Reilly5) May 15, 2025
“For his safety they gotta make him sit”
“We seriously need to actually know what’s up with Porzingis, like being sick for months?? This has to be a desease or something like there’s no way it’s just bad cough that lingers.”
“Look man, we all love KP and always will for his contributions to our title last year, but he’s clearly not right… Just sit him going forward.”
Look man, we all love KP and always will for his contributions to our title last year, but he’s clearly not right. I admire the hell out of him for fighting whatever he’s going through for the team, but sometimes effort isn’t what they need. Just sit him going forward
— Corey Sanderson (@CoreySanderso10) May 15, 2025
“I know he wants to play but it looks like he shouldn’t be out there. If he’s still sick he’s just gunna hurt himself and the team”
“Yea man something up with this guy. Something ain’t right.”
For other sports-related content:
Follow me on X at @BarbecueBro, and follow us at @HardwoodHeroics and @GridironHeroics. You can also reach out to Reign Amurao via email at [email protected]. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest sports news, click here!
Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
