Derrick White took the ball from Josh Giddey, and Kristaps Porzingis ran the other way. He noticed the 2-on-1 advantage, and he completed White's lob for an impressive alley-oop dunk.
Porzingis held onto the rim briefly. Even in the middle of the fourth quarter, he appeared energetic and smooth. The Celtics big man – finishing with 27 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks in Wednesday’s win over the Thunder – seemed to have a bounce in his step. It wasn't by chance.
“My legs are a bit better. But mainly, I'm starting to pick up the pace a bit more, you know?” Porzingis stated. “Knowing that we have playoffs soon. I want to be at my best when the playoffs arrive.
“I'm just getting into that mindset of finishing the regular season strongly. That's my goal.”
Wednesday showcased Porzingis at his peak, the version the Celtics will require if they aim to win a championship this year. He dominated mismatches in the post, posed a threat from deep which opened up the game for his teammates, and was a defensive force with five blocks, impacting several more shots as he outperformed Chet Holmgren.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned that Wednesday’s win served as an important learning opportunity for his team. He was pleased with their approach to the Thunder’s defensive switches and their discipline in the post against a physical defense. They avoided turnovers in the paint and maintained their spacing to open up the game. It all revolved around Porzingis, the key to their championship aspirations.
“He has a huge impact,” Jaylen Brown stated. “Just having him on the court. His ability to shoot the ball, and his ability to efficiently post up against mismatches. But what's most crucial to me is the defensive aspect, his ability to be solid, put his hands up and contest shots at the rim. When he’s doing that, and is committed to it without taking any plays off, it elevates our team to another level. …
“We want to see more of that, because in the playoffs, one or two possessions could make the difference. So we need Porzingis to show up strong and be that impactful player we've seen all year.”
Porzingis recently recovered from a hamstring injury that kept him out for five games last month, but he mentioned that he's getting closer to full health. The remaining six games will be vital as he gets into shape for a long postseason.
“I still think I can improve even more,” Porzingis said. “But I look forward to being at my best when the playoffs come.”
Reason to worry?
Jaylen Brown rebounded from a rough first three quarters on Wednesday before scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter to defeat the Thunder, but he was far from content. He described his performance as a “(expletive) game” and mentioned that he wasn’t feeling his best. His sprained left hand, which caused him to miss Monday’s win over the Hornets, is likely part of the reason and will certainly need extra attention before the playoffs.
“I believe I have a ligament sprain or strain in my hand, but I think it’s okay,” Brown stated. “I'm not worried about it in the future but it bothered me a bit tonight. Part of it is about working through it and playing through it, because that gives you more information later on.”
Kicking for a cause
Mazzulla was proud to wear customized shoes that supported a close friend on Wednesday night. Scott Morrison, who was previously an assistant coach with the Celtics alongside Mazzulla before becoming an assistant with the Jazz, initiated a program for head coaches across the league to wear custom shoes to raise awareness for Autism Acceptance Month in April.
Morrison’s son, Max, was diagnosed with autism in 2022, and Mazzulla is his godfather. Mazzulla was pleased to back the cause, which seeks to raise awareness and funds for autism resources and services.
“My relationship with Scott is love/hate. My relationship with his son is love,” Mazzulla said. “Max is my godson, love him to death, grateful that Scott gave me that opportunity to be in his life. It’s a great day to kind of honor him and support him and support people that have autism. And just like anything else, it’s one of those things where it’s about the people, but it’s also you seeing the effect that it can have on families, marriages, and people. So you’re doing the best you can to support it, but I’m happy to do that for Max today.”
Tip-ins
Brown (left hand sprain) and White (low back contusion) are questionable for Friday night’s game against the Kings. Jaden Springer (left knee tendinopathy) remains out. …
Brown is close to reaching 10,000 career points. … The Celtics, who achieved their 60th win of the season on Wednesday, have 14 seasons with 60 or more wins, the most in NBA history. … With Wednesday’s 35-point win over the Thunder, the Celtics now have 16 victories by 25 or more points this season, the most in league history.
