ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania said on ABC’s coverage before Knicks-Celtics Game 3 on Saturday that Porzingis is still dealing with the effects of a virus that had ailed him back in March. Charania said the Celtics star thought he had felt he improved, but things have been up-and-down since the second round began this week.

When Kristaps Porzingis concluded his first six-minute shift Wednesday night, he looked like he’d just run a marathon. His breathing was heavy. He was visibly fatigued. When he took his seat on the Celtics bench, he dropped his head and stared at the TD Garden parquet.

The Boston Celtics have struggled to get a strong showing from Kristaps Porzingis, who is still dealing with a linger illness from the winter.

As the Knicks made yet another soul-crushing run in the fourth quarter Wednesday, all Kristaps Porzingis could do was watch.

In a surprising start to the second round of the NBA playoffs, the Boston Celtics find themselves trailing the New York Knicks 2-0 in their series. This comes after the Knicks rallied from 20-point deficits in the first two games to come away with a pair of narrow victories.

The Boston Celtics are sticking with Al Horford as their starting center for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, even though Kristaps Porzingis is available to play.

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) looks for a shot against Orlando Magic guard Cory Joseph (10) during the first half in game 3 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series,, Friday, April 25, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) AP

Karl-Anthony Towns injures hand. In the second quarter against Boston on Saturday, Karl-Anthony Towns and Luke Kornett were battling for a rebound around the basket, which Towns g