TD Garden fell silent when Kristaps Porziņģis, Boston’s 7-foot-3 savior, collapsed to the floor in Game 2. Moments later, a 20-point lead evaporated—and with it, the Celtics’ championship dream. That defeat wasn’t only about Porziņģis exiting. It revealed that the Knicks are built for clutch comebacks. After an epic 20-point comeback in Game 1, they pulled off another stunning turnaround in Game 2, overcoming a 20-point deficit to edge the Celtics 91-90.

The Celtics were in control for most of the game, looking solid with a big lead through three quarters. But in the final stretch, Boston couldn’t buy a basket, missing 12 straight shots, while the Knicks capitalized on their momentum. Now, they’re heading to Manhattan with a 2-0 series lead.

Charles Barkley didn’t hold back on House of Highlights. And honestly, he didn’t need to. “Celtics is not the same if Porzingis is not out there,” he said, plain and simple. And after two games against the Knicks, it’s hard to argue. Porziņģis returned off the bench in Game 2, logging 13 minutes and contributing 8 points and 4 rebounds. But the illness that pulled him in Game 1 clearly hadn’t let go. It remains unclear if this illness is tied to the viral bug that cost him eight straight games from February 28 to March 14, 2025, due to an upper-respiratory virus. But one fact stands out: Boston desperately needs him healthy. Without KP at full power, their title hopes could unravel.

Porziņģis admitted his frustration plainly. “It just kills me inside that it’s happening in this moment,” he told reporters after the Celtics’ loss. He’s trying to tough it out—“But who cares?” he said. “Nobody feels sorry for us, sorry for me, and we have to keep going.” That frustration, mixed with the pressure of trailing 0-2 in the series, is real. Coach Joe Mazzulla said it best: “It was just too much for him in that game.” The support stands ready, yet the pressure feels overwhelming.

Let’s explore Porzingis’ importance through Games 1 and 2 of the semifinals.

The Kristaps Porziņģis problem: How illness shifted the Celtics’ game plan

Even with the illness sidelining him late, Porziņģis made a real impact during the regular season. He put up 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks a game. He shot an impressive 80.9% from the free-throw line and  48.3% from beyond the arc, which is just wild for a guy his size. The Celtics managed his minutes smartly—28.8 per game—to keep him fresh, and it paid off. His ability to stretch the floor on offense and alter shots on defense was a huge part of what made Boston click. And with a 61.8% true shooting percentage, he kept the offense flowing efficiently all season long.

Considering all of that, it is evident how much of an impact Porzingis has on Boston. He was brought in by the Celtics because of his size, and they were greatly helped by his shooting. However, you could sense the change when he had to depart in the second half of Game 1, when the offense simply collapsed without him. They missed an 45 out of 60 three-pointers, setting a postseason record. The rim protection simply wasn’t there, and let’s not even talk about the defense.

In Game 2, Porziņģis got the green light from the Celtics’ medical staff, but instead of starting, he came off the bench while Al Horford took his spot in the lineup. And honestly, that move made a lot of sense. The team was clearly being careful, trying to manage his minutes and not push him too hard after dealing with that illness. It wasn’t a huge stat line, but just having him out there, even in a limited role, felt like the Celtics were hoping his presence alone might give the team a spark.

And then came the moment everyone was talking about. With just 12.7 seconds left in Game 2, Mazzulla made a call that raised some eyebrows—he let the Celtics play it out instead of using their last timeout to set something up. After the game, he explained it pretty matter-of-factly: “Had one [timeout] left, got a good look in the exact same play 20 seconds earlier… just didn’t execute.”

But in that final possession, without Porziņģis out there to stretch the floor or force defenders to make tough choices, the offense kind of stalled. Mikal Bridges read it perfectly, jumped the play, and came up with a huge steal that sealed the win for the Knicks. Just like that, New York took a 2-0 lead. And honestly? When Porziņģis isn’t right, the Celtics just don’t feel like the same team.

The Celtics are now facing an overwhelming 0–2 deficit and are in a desperate situation. Despite his best efforts, Porzingis’ health continues to be a serious issue for their chances of winning the series. The team must adjust and come together behind their star big man if they hope to keep their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs alive. Will Boston be able to bounce back, or will Porzingis’ absence continue to haunt them?