Kristaps Porzingis had arguably his hardest task of the season on Friday, January fifteenth. The Boston Celtics hosted the defending champion, Denver Nuggets, who have been coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Many anticipated this to be a terrific recreation contemplating this very properly may very well be the NBA Finals matchup this 12 months. Followers obtained their cash’s price because the Nuggets snapped the Celtics’ 20-game house win streak successful 102-100. It was arguably the sport of the 12 months and Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray scored or assisted on 89 of the Nuggets’ factors. After the sport, Kristaps Porzingis was very complimentary of Jokic going as far to name him the perfect on the planet, very similar to Joel Embiid did just a few night time prior.
“He’s pure basketball expertise, he’s a pure basketball mastermind,” Porzingis mentioned of Jokic. “He’s the perfect participant on the planet. He’s simply so artful, he virtually makes you go to sleep — like, he’s not doing something, after which he simply slides by you.”
Porzingis additionally mentioned in the event that they see Denver within the NBA Finals, it will be a “chess match.” Porzingis was stable as Boston’s star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown struggled. The Latvian massive man completed the night time with 21 factors, eight rebounds, and a key block on Nikola Jokic down the stretch.
Kristaps Porzingis Calls Nikola Jokic the Greatest within the World After 102-100 Heavyweight Battle
Kristaps Porzingis’ Influence for Boston This 12 months
Porzingis was one of many massive will get for the Celtics this previous offseason. He has lived as much as the hype to this point and has confirmed to be a seamless match. Thus far this season, the previous New York Knick is tallying 19.1 factors, 1.8 blocks, and 6.8 whole rebounds per recreation. On prime of this, he’s additionally averaging a career-best efficient discipline objective proportion of 59.4 p.c, a real taking pictures proportion of 65.6 p.c, and a participant effectivity score of 21.9. With the Celtics arguably boasting the perfect starting-five within the league, it has actually allowed Porzingis to flourish along with his skill-set with out including an excessive amount of strain on his shoulders. Many speculated that he may have been the lacking piece for Boston after including him this previous offseason. Thus far, it seems to be like that may be a truthful evaluation.
A Nuggets-Celtics Finals Matchup Very Attainable This Season
The Denver Nuggets are the defending champions for a purpose. As for the Celtics, they’re solely a 12 months faraway from making a Finals look of their very own. Per FanDuel, the Celtics presently have the perfect odds to win the Finals at +300 odds. For the defending champions, they presently have the second-best odds at +430 odds.
With this in thoughts, these two groups assembly up in June is seeming increasingly more probably. Many thought it could have occurred final 12 months, however the Miami Warmth’s cinderella-like run derailed these plans. Kristaps Porzingis can have his arms full if this matchup does occur as Boston will probably match him up with Nikola Jokic so much throughout a seven-game sequence. Boston presently has the perfect file within the league and Denver is the third seed within the Western Convention. Consequently, don’t be shocked if these two groups meet this coming summer season.