Kristaps Porzingis has not donned a New York Knicks uniform since 2018, yet fans at Madison Square Garden continue to boo him whenever he visits. Saturday night was no different. Porzingis faced the Knicks as the Boston Celtics’ third offensive option.
The game proved to be critical for both teams, as the Knicks lost 116-102 to the conference-leading Celtics.
Knicks: Former franchise player Kristaps Porzingis basked in boos from the MSG audience
After the game, Porzingis discussed the jeers he heard from Knicks fans and how he deals to such a hostile environment, according to Heavy Sports’ Alder Almo:
“I enjoy [the boos], to be honest,” Porzingis told reporters after the game. “They kind of went down throughout my years in Washington, but they still get booed. I feel like they’ve picked up a little bit now that I’m with the Celtics and we have this rivalry with the Knicks.”
Porzingis’ game was a clear indicator that the boos did not get the better of him. He gave the Knicks 22 points on 7-11 shooting from the field, 3-4 shooting from deep, and a perfect clip from the charity stripe.
For yet another time this year, Porzingis’ impact helped the Celtics get a victory over the Knicks, this time by a wide 14-point margin. In the Knicks’ season opener against the Celtics on Oct. 25, Porzingis’ hot shooting down the stretch allowed Boston to narrowly edge out the Jalen Brunson-led ball club.
Porzingis’ strong play against the Knicks amidst hostility could have playoff implications
Porzingis once again overcame the virulent crowd at the “World’s Most Famous Arena” and now seems to have the team and the fanbase’s number. This is shaping up to be bad news for the Knicks. The likelihood that they see the Celtics come playoff time is high.
Boston currently owns a 45-12 record atop the East while New York trails behind them at 34-23 as the No. 4 seed. Should both teams live up to their current positioning in the standings, they’ll see each other in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Porzingis being unbothered by Knicks fans may spell trouble should the playoff outcome come to fruition.
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