The Clock Is Ticking: Just How Bad Has Porziņģis Been in the Playoffs?

When the Boston Celtics routed the New York Knicks 127-102 in Game 5 of the second round, they did it without their franchise cornerstone Jayson Tatum. And yet, the Celtics not only survived—they dominated. With the win, Boston narrowed the series deficit to 2-3 and forced another elimination game. But perhaps the most jaw-dropping part of the night wasn’t the victory margin or the brilliance of Derrick White—it was the continued invisibility of Kristaps Porziņģis.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: Porziņģis has been atrocious this postseason. And in a game where the Celtics won by 25, he somehow posted a -12 plus-minus in just 12 minutes. That’s not just bad—it’s historically awful.

A Deep, Deep Hole

Boston has been praised all year for its roster depth, and Game 5 was a full showcase:

• Derrick White erupted for 34 points on 7-of-13 shooting from three, adding 3 boards and 2 assists with a +26 plus-minus.

• Jaylen Brown tallied a near triple-double: 26 points, 8 rebounds, 12 assists, and just 2 turnovers—good for a +28.

• Jrue Holiday, ever the steady hand, added 14 points and 7 rebounds with lockdown defense.

• Payton Pritchard stepped up with 17 points off the bench, and backup big Luke Kornet nearly posted a triple-nickel with 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 blocks.

Then there’s Porziņģis: 3 FGA, 0 makes, 1 point, 1 rebound, 2 turnovers. His +/− was the worst on the team. Again: this happened in a 25-point win.

The Viral Factor—Literally

It’s not as if Porziņģis is just coasting. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, Porziņģis is still dealing with the lingering effects of a mysterious virus he contracted in March. The illness reportedly left him severely fatigued, reliant on IV drips and immune boosters, and sleeping excessively. His condition remains unresolved.

After Game 5, head coach Joe Mazzulla said plainly, “He was gasping for air. Unless we absolutely had to, we weren’t going to play him.”

That’s a concerning admission—and an indictment. In theory, a team might give an underperforming player grace when illness is in play. But Porziņģis isn’t just any player.

Availability Is the Best Ability—And KP Has None

Let’s talk durability. This season, Porziņģis played just 42 regular season games. That followed a 57-game campaign last year. In the 2024 playoffs, he’s appeared in 5 games this series—but played just 16.4 minutes per game. His numbers are staggeringly bad:

• 4.2 points per game

• 3.4 rebounds

• 23.8% FG shooting

• 14.3% from three

This is a guy who's supposed to be the Celtics' unicorn, their defensive anchor and third scorer. Instead, he’s been a ghost.

And it’s not just the offense. Defensively, he’s been ineffective. Porziņģis is supposed to deter shots at the rim—but opponents are actually shooting better when he contests them. The Knicks are shooting 52.5% on shots Porziņģis contests, up from 51.1% otherwise. That’s not rim protection—that’s a red carpet.

A Pattern, Not an Exception

This isn’t an isolated playoff collapse. Let’s rewind.

Last year, Porziņģis suited up for only 7 playoff games total. He missed the entire second and third rounds. In the NBA Finals, he played just 59 minutes across three games. And this year? Again, barely a factor.

There was one shining moment—a 34-point, 11-19 shooting masterpiece late in the regular season… against the Knicks, no less. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Since then, he's regressed into a player who can barely stay on the floor.

It’s not unfair to ask: Can a team with championship aspirations afford to keep waiting for KP to be available? For Boston, the answer is tilting sharply toward no.

The Cap Crunch Is Coming

Boston is heading straight into salary cap hell. Tatum’s supermax extension kicks in soon. Jaylen Brown is already on one. Jrue Holiday has been extended. There’s no flexibility left.

Porziņģis is owed $30.7 million next season—the final year of his deal. On paper, that’s an expiring contract with theoretical value. In practice? It's a flaming asset.

Any GM thinking of trading for Porziņģis has to reconcile his brutal playoff resume, his injury history, his inconsistent effort, and the real possibility that he simply can’t be relied on for a full season. Even at just 29 years old, Porziņģis may already be viewed as damaged goods. And it’s likely Boston would need to attach draft compensation just to unload him.

A Series Not Yet Lost—But a Legacy Damaged

Despite trailing 2-3, the Celtics still have a very real chance of advancing. In the two games they’ve won, they’ve outscored the Knicks by a combined 47 points. In their three losses? They’ve lost by a total of just 12 points—and blew leads of 20, 20, and 14.

Game 6 is do-or-die. With or without Tatum, Boston has enough firepower to force a Game 7, and from there, it’s a coin flip. The Knicks may be in the lead now, but the pressure is mounting.

But for Porziņģis, this series may be about something else entirely: his Boston future. If he’s going down, is this really how he wants to go out?

He’s got maybe one or two games left to rewrite the narrative. Otherwise, this may be the final chapter of the Kristaps Porziņģis era in Boston—and it’s been written in disappointment.

Final Word:

Porziņģis didn’t just underperform—he vanished. While the Celtics grind through the playoffs and keep their title hopes alive, their $30 million center has become a luxury they can no longer afford. For a player with All-Star talent, he’s delivered G-League impact.

Whether it’s illness, injury, or inconsistency, it no longer matters. Time’s up. And in Boston, patience is running out.