NEW YORK — When the Celtics return to the court, they may look like a much different team than the one that entered the playoffs as defending champions. Jayson Tatum’s injury during their Game 4 loss to the Knicks was a major blow, raising concerns that extend beyond just this postseason.
The full extent of Tatum’s injury remains unknown as he’s scheduled for an MRI on Tuesday. In the meantime, the Celtics must focus on staying alive in Game 5, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday against New York. On a more encouraging note, Kristaps Porzingis provided a positive update on his recent illness following Game 4.
"Tonight was the first time I actually felt decent, to be honest," Porzingis said. "Overall—my energy, my mood—I felt more uplifted. Even if it wasn’t my best game, I had good energy and felt like I could move up and down the court better, so that was a positive sign."
Porzingis came off the bench once again in Game 4, but logged 24 minutes—his highest total since Game 3 of the first-round series against the Magic. He tallied seven points and four rebounds while shooting 2-of-6 from the floor. Though he struggled at times, Porzingis did have a few bright spots, including grabbing three offensive rebounds.
Still, the Celtics will need a lot more from him moving forward, especially with Jayson Tatum potentially out for an elimination game—an absence that places greater pressure on the rest of the lineup.
“We’re grown men,” Porzingis said. “Who hasn’t dealt with injuries? It’s part of the sport, part of the game. Of course, we feel for him, but we have to keep going. He wouldn’t want us to be down or not playing our best. We’re going to give everything we have and live with the outcome.”
Porzingis also opened up about the illness that’s affected him for months, calling it “super weird.” He said it’s left him with intense muscle fatigue and a need for extended sleep—up to 12 hours at times—just to allow his body to recover. He’s doing everything he can to prepare for the demands of playoff basketball.
While Porzingis is feeling better, the Celtics will need more than improved health—they need results. His lingering illness has not only limited his availability but also impacted his effectiveness on the floor. With Boston facing elimination, Porzingis will have to be one of the players who steps up in a crucial Game 5.
“We have a lot of talent,” Porzingis said. “Even with JT out, and even if I’m only playing 10-15 minutes, we’ve shown before that we can still play really good basketball. Obviously, you can’t replace a guy like him—this is a huge blow, no question. But we’ve got to play the hand we’re dealt, and this is it.”
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