Last Updated:
Porzingis re-entered the game after the injury, with a bloodied forehead, and connected on one of two free throws before exiting again.
Boston Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis (X)
Talk about shedding blood, sweat, and tears for the love of the game. Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis surely took it to heart, as ‘The Unicorn’ (although he lost his horn) took a blow and shot free throws with blood spurting from his head.
Porzingis went to the locker room with a gash on his forehead but returned to shoot a pair of free throws after taking an elbow from Goga Bitadze of the Magic in the third quarter of Game 2 of Boston’s first-round playoff matchup with Orlando on Wednesday night.
Porzingis and Bitadze both went up for a rebound, and Bitadze caught Porzingis in the head on the way to the ground with 55 seconds remaining in the quarter.
A video review by officials determined Bitadze had wound up and thrust his elbow into Porzingis, and he was assessed a flagrant foul.
During the review, Porzingis emerged from the locker room to a loud ovation, with dried blood streaking down the back of his head and a bandage on the center of his forehead. He re-entered the game and connected on one of two free throws before exiting again.
The Celtics led 81-71 entering the fourth quarter. Porzingis returned to the bench area midway through the period, with the dried blood cleaned from his head, and he re-entered the game with 7:15 left.
Well, Porzingis’ efforts would pay off, the Celtics beat the Orlando Magic 109-100 to take a 2-0 series lead while playing without All-Star Jayson Tatum, who has a bone bruise in his right wrist and missed a playoff game for the first time in his career.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Associated Press)