Kristaps Porzingis was on the receiving end of an elbow to his forehead.
But that didn’t stop him from taking his free throws.
After the Magic’s Paolo Banchero missed a jumper with less than a minute to go in the third quarter of the Celtics’ 109-100 Game 2 win in Boston, Porzingis took an inadvertent elbow to the noggin from Goga Bitadze as the two vied for the loose ball.
Kristaps Porzingis is helped off the court after being cut by an elbow to the head during the second half of the Celtics’ 109-100 home win over the Magic on April 23, 2025. Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Kristaps Porzingis returned to the court to shoot fouls shots after being cut by an elbow during the second half of the Celtics’ Game 2 home win over the Magic. Winslow Townson-Imagn ImagesPorzingis immediately fell to the TD Garden floor with blood running from the front of his head into his hair and to the back as Bitadze checked on him.
After he got up off the floor, Porzingis, with a towel on his head as blood dripped down his face, was all smiles as he went back to the Celtics’ locker room and even high-fived some fans.
Bitadze, after a long review, was handed a flagrant 1, and Porzingis, now bandaged up and with stitches, came back to the floor to shoot his free throws and made 1 of 2.
“How can I not come back? ‘Oh, I have five stitches, I can’t play anymore?’ My legs are working. Of course I’m going back to be out there,” Porzingis told reporters. “I like these moments. … “I love my WWE moments. We’re not going to get let anybody punk us.”
Kristaps Porzingis prepares to take a free throw after being cut by an
elbow during the second half of the Celtics’ home win over the Pistons
on April 23, 2025. Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Kristaps Porzingis is all smiles despite having a bandage on his head during the Celtics’ Game 2 win over the Magic. Getty ImagesPorzingis finished with 20 points — half of which came from the charity stripe — with 10 rebounds, two blocks and two steals as the Celtics cruised to a 2-0 series lead, holding serve at home court.
Jaylen Brown led the way with 36 points while Derrick White chipped in 17.
The teams are scheduled to play Game 3 in Orlando on Friday night.
