Latvian center Kristaps Porziņģis made a stellar return after an eight-game absence due to illness, scoring 24 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 115-113 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday in the NBA.
Jayson Tatum contributed 20 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, while Payton Pritchard delivered an explosive performance off the bench with 22 points, setting a new single-season record for most three-pointers made by a reserve player.
Porziņģis admitted he was not at full strength initially but gradually found his rhythm:
“At first, I felt a bit out of sync. My early shots weren’t accurate, but as the game progressed, I started to feel better. I’m happy to be back.”
He added:
“I’m still not at my best, but the past few weeks have been tough. In moments like this, you have to fight to prove yourself. That’s what I tried to do, and I’m glad we got the win.”
Pritchard made history by sinking his 219th three-pointer of the season in the fourth quarter, setting the record for the most three-pointers by a bench player in a single season. He finished the game shooting 7-of-11, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, and sealed the victory with three clutch free throws in the final eight seconds.
This marks Boston’s 13th win in their last 16 games, improving their record to 49-19, placing them second in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Cleveland Cavaliers by seven games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shines with 48 Points
In another game, NBA scoring leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put on a dominant performance, dropping 48 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 113-107 win over the Detroit Pistons.
