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Can the Knicks hang with the Celtics’ high-powered offense?<\/p>\n
USA TODAY Sports’ Lorenzo Reyes breaks down the second-round matchup between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks.<\/p>\n
Sports Pulse<\/p>\n
What’s wrong with Boston big man Kristaps Porzingis<\/a>?<\/p>\n The Celtics<\/a> pulled Porzingis midway through the second quarter of their opening game<\/a> against the New York Knicks<\/a> in the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday night.<\/p>\n While he briefly appeared after halftime, he went back to the locker room, and the Celtics announced<\/a> he was questionable to return to the game thanks to a non-COVID illness. He did not return, and the Knicks overcame a 20-point deficit<\/a> to win 118-115 in overtime<\/a>.<\/p>\n Porzingis was not on the injury report before Game 1. It is unclear if he will be available for Game 2 on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET, TNT).<\/p>\n \u201cIt impacts the game because of his ability on both ends of the floor. \u2026 Hopefully, he\u2019s ready for Game 2,” Celtics<\/a> coach Joe Mazzulla said after the Game 1 loss.\u00a0Mazzulla did not provide any specifics about the illness.<\/p>\n He missed all four of his shot attempts and grabbed four rebounds in the 14 minutes he played. The 7-2, 240-pound center\/forward is averaging 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds.<\/p>\n In the opening round vs. the Orlando Magic, Porzingis suffered a cut on his forehead that required stitches.<\/p>\n He missed 11 games in February and March with an upper respiratory illness. During Boston’s run to the title last season, Porzingis sat out six games with a calf strain. He returned for the NBA Finals, only to suffer a foot injury that required offseason surgery.<\/p>\n