Kristaps Porzingis has always had a tough time dealing with injuries, but this year he is dealing with something entirely new. The Celtics center has had an illness for a few months now, which is hindering his ability to impact games in the playoffs.
So far in the second-round series against the Knicks, Porzingis has played just 27 minutes in two games, including missing the entire second half of Game 1. During Game 2, Porzingis came off the bench for the first time this series and played just 14 minutes, struggling to collect his footing.
Moving forward, for the Celtics to get back into this series, they will either need Porzingis to step up or figure out how to win without the center. Here's why Porzingis is not 100 percent in the playoffs.
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What's wrong with Kristaps Porzingis?
In late February and early March, Porzingis contracted a respiratory illness that forced him to miss eight games. Once he returned, it took him a while to re-acclimate after a difficult time dealing with the illness.
"I haven’t been this sick, probably ever, in my life," Porzingis said in March, via Noa Dalzell. "After each workout, I was — boom, big crash. Really fatigued. Not normal."
Kristaps Porzingis details what these last few weeks have been like:
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) March 16, 2025
“It was extremely, extremely frustrating not knowing what I had.. I haven’t been this sick, probably ever, in my life.”
“After each workout, I was — boom, big crash. Really fatigued. Not normal.” pic.twitter.com/v5QSDBCkMz
While Porzingis has returned to action, this illness hasn't fully left his body. The center acknowledged that he isn't fully healthy at the moment, and it hurts him that he isn't able to play better.
"I’m just not feeling my best," he said after Game 2's loss vs. New York. "I'm not feeling my best at all. It kills me inside."
“I’m just not feeling my best. I’m not feeling my best at all. It kills me inside.”
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 8, 2025
Kristaps Porzingis on being limited with an illness during the first 2 games of the season.
(via @RealBobManning) pic.twitter.com/5PGoHs4wBT
Porzingis' specific diagnosis is unknown, but it is serious enough that he can only give Boston limited action on the court. Head coach Joe Mazzulla said after Game 2 that the center is giving the team as much as he can.
"He gave us everything he has, and with these two days off, hopefully he can recover a little bit more," Mazzulla said, via ESPN's Brian Windhorst. "Every game will be situationally depending upon how much he can go. But I'm just grateful for what he was able to do for us."
The veteran center does have an extensive injury history, including a calf injury during last year's championship run. In 2024-25, Porzingis played in just 42 games, his fewest since missing the entire 2018-19 season with a torn ACL.
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Kristaps Porzingis playoff stats
During the first round of the playoffs, Porzingis averaged 12.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game on 35.2 percent shooting in 27.4 minutes per game. However, in the second round against the Knicks, Porzingis has played just 13.5 minutes per game, averaging 4.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest.