How Porzingis is a gamechanger for Celtics in two key areas originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

There’s a reason why Kristaps Porzingis was so eager to get back on the field.

Beyond the obvious — that Porzingis is a competitor who doesn’t like to be on the sidelines — the Boston Celtics big man specifically understood how to make one of the best teams in the NBA even better.

And he did that on Monday evening.

Porzingis gave the Celtics 22 energetic minutes against the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting along with six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal in his first game action since Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals.

The result was a much-needed 126-94 victory for a Celtics team that played a surprising number of close games early in the season. But Porzingis knew exactly how to take the C’s to the next level on both ends of the floor.

“What I want to bring to this team is obviously what I brought last season: open the field for guys and my rim protection,” Porzingis told NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin after the game, as seen in the video player above. “And I thought these were some of the things we could get better at.”

Consider both missions accomplished during Monday’s rout. While Porzingis’ three-point shot was a bit rusty (1 for 6 from deep), his mere presence behind the arc opened up looks for his teammates. Boston’s improved floor spacing led to a historic second quarter in which the Celtics hit 12 3-pointers in 12 minutes, tying an NBA record.

The Celtics finished with 22 made 3-pointers on 51 attempts and six players scored in double figures as part of a balanced attack helped by the addition of a dynamic offensive presence in Porzingis.

“When we’re at our best, we do this,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said after the game. “… With KP back, you have the ability to go to post-ups. We have a back door for Jayson (Tatum). So it just adds different layers to what you do.”

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However, Porzingis made an equally big impact on the defensive end.

Rim protection was an issue for the Celtics through 17 games — Boston ranks 26th in the NBA in points allowed per game — but the 7-foot-10 big man supported the center, limiting the Clippers to just 50 percent shooting on two-point shots and 94 points, their second-lowest scoring output of the season.

“When you have someone like that on the perimeter, you know they have your back,” Celtics guard Payton Pritchard said of Porzingis. “So I can put more pressure on the ball, go in, and if I get beat, I know it’s going to recover. . It takes a lot of pressure off so you can take more risks and get more steals.”

Mazzulla was more succinct when asked how Porzingis’ presence helps Boston’s defense.

“Yes, 11 blocks (as a team) tonight. It helps,” Mazzulla said with a smile.

The Celtics went 21-4 without Porzingis last season and started 14-3 this season in his absence, so they can clearly hold their own with him sidelined. But when healthy, Porzingis transforms the league’s top team into a virtually unbeatable juggernaut — and he knows it well.

“Regardless of who is or isn’t on this team, we are an incredibly built team,” Porzingis told Abby Chin.