On Sunday night, the Celtics faced a tough loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Kristaps Porzingis playing more than 30 minutes for the first time this season. Despite scoring 21 points and grabbing eight rebounds, Porzingis admitted he didn’t feel like his usual self. The 7-foot-2 center, who had been recovering from offseason ankle surgery, made three steals but had no blocks, with only one of his rebounds coming on the offensive end. Porzingis acknowledged that there were many things he could learn from his extended action.
Playing in the absence of Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, Porzingis was leaned on for his 3-point range to space the floor, going 3-for-7 from beyond the arc. However, the Celtics let a 12-point lead slip away in the fourth quarter as Donovan Mitchell led the charge for the Cavaliers with 35 points, including six 3-pointers. Porzingis expressed regret for not playing up to his level and failing to anticipate certain situations quickly enough, acknowledging that the team had a big margin for improvement.
Despite the loss, Porzingis maintained a positive outlook, stating that every defeat stings but serves as a learning opportunity for improvement. The Celtics will look to bounce back and play much better in their upcoming games, as they aim to build on their performance and execute more effectively in clutch moments.
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Photo credit www.boston.com
