Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla reminded everyone of his “sicko” reputation during the team’s 109-100 Game 2 win over the Orlando Magic.
Credit: Getty Images
In the early stages of the fourth quarter, Kristaps Porzingis was bleeding after he took a nasty elbow to the head from Goga Bitadze. The Latvian international came back onto the floor, shot two free throws, and closed the game out, much to the delight of Mazzulla and the TD Garden crowd.
“I like watching him bleed on court. I think it’s important. And then he comes back in and does his job… Just knew he had to shoot the free throws if he wanted to come back in the game. And then he came back and helped us finish it off. So, appreciate his toughness,” Mazzulla said about Porzingis via Celtics on CLNS.
“I like his overall just approach. I think you have an innate ability to take games very serious, and at the same time, have great perspective,” he added. “And when you see how he handled that, I think he controls the environment very well with how he handles the crowd, and how he handles the physicality of it, and he can maintain his poise. He just has a great way about him, and I think that helps us.”
Boston Celtics News: Kristaps Porzingis sends clear message to the Orlando Magic
Kristaps Porzingis drew praise for his toughness in Game 2. Bloodied head aside, the one-time NBA All-Star recorded 20 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks on 5-for-14 shooting from the field and 10-for-14 from the free throw line.
Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
During the postgame press conference, Porzingis revealed he had five stitches to close the wound, but that won’t stop him from giving his all in the team’s upcoming playoff matches.
“We’re gonna be us, we’re not gonna let anybody like punk us … we’re not gonna take it, we’re gonna hit them right back,” Porzingis said about the Orlando Magic’s physicality.
