By scoring the Celtics' first eleven points, Kristaps Porzingis kicked off the summit meeting between Boston and Denver. In the process, Nikola Jokic responded and the Latvian suffered against the physical dimension of the Serb.
If then Joe Mazzulla sent Al Horford to the MVP of the 2023 Finals, the two men delivered a very physical and prolific duel at the start of the match, with 15 points each in the first quarter.
“I have a mark that I will show you. It's from my second year in the league. Everyone thinks it's a scar after surgery, but it's a scratch from a match. confess inside Boston, in reaction to the marks on Jokic's arms. “That's why I'm wearing a muff, because there was blood everywhere. We all get hooked. But I agree, Jokic's arms aren't red by chance. That's crazy. Maybe he should wear a muff too. »
A “chess game” between two great teams
The Nuggets will finally get the better of the Celtics. And Nikola Jokic from Kristaps Porzingis because the first compiled 34 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists while the second only put up six points after his very good first quarter.
“He’s a pure talent, a pure basketball genius,” admires the former Knicks and Mavericks. “He’s the best player in the world. He's so smart. He almost puts you to sleep, as if he was doing nothing and just passing by you. He has so many tricks up his sleeve, he does so many things, makes such difficult shots that are not difficult for him, because he scores them for a long time. We must make do. »
The Boston interior loved this duel and this game. “Even though we lost, it was a great match”, he slips. A meeting worthy of a playoff match, as Jamal Murray explains: “It was a tactical match. Everyone on the field was on the same page. Every timeout made a difference. Both teams counter each other. »
The defending champion and the 2022 finalist meet in Denver on March 7 for the return match. For a series of playoffs, we will have to meet in June, in the Finals. Which would please Kristaps Porzingis. “If we find them in the playoffs, it will be a hell of a game of chess”he concludes.
| Kristaps Porzingis | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2015-16 | NYK | 72 | 28 | 42.1 | 33.3 | 83.8 | 1.8 | 5.5 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 14.3 |
| 2016-17 | NYK | 66 | 33 | 45.0 | 35.7 | 78.6 | 1.7 | 5.5 | 7.2 | 1.5 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 18.1 |
| 2017-18 | NYK | 48 | 32 | 43.9 | 39.5 | 79.3 | 1.3 | 5.3 | 6.6 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 22.7 |
| 2019-20 | DAL | 57 | 32 | 42.7 | 35.2 | 79.9 | 1.8 | 7.7 | 9.5 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 20.4 |
| 2020-21 | DAL | 43 | 31 | 47.6 | 37.6 | 85.5 | 1.9 | 7.0 | 8.9 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 20.1 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 51 | 29 | 45.9 | 31.0 | 86.7 | 2.0 | 6.1 | 8.1 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 20.2 |
| 2021-22 * | DAL | 34 | 30 | 45.1 | 28.3 | 86.5 | 1.9 | 5.8 | 7.7 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 19.2 |
| 2021-22 * | W.A.S. | 17 | 28 | 47.5 | 36.7 | 87.1 | 2.2 | 6.6 | 8.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 22.1 |
| 2022-23 | W.A.S. | 65 | 33 | 49.8 | 38.5 | 85.1 | 1.8 | 6.7 | 8.4 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 23.2 |
| 2023-24 | BOS | 30 | 30 | 52.5 | 32.7 | 83.7 | 1.5 | 5.3 | 6.8 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 19.1 |
| Total | 432 | 31 | 45.7 | 35.7 | 82.8 | 1.7 | 6.1 | 7.9 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 19.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
