Fans Are Saying The Same Thing About Kristaps Porzingis After Game 5 Benching
After Jayson Tatum was lost for the rest of the NBA Playoffs and likely most of the 2025-26 season with a ruptured Achilles, the Boston Celtics faced elimination in Game 5.
But the Jaylen Brown-led Celtics prevailed against Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks 127-102, keeping their season alive for at least another game.
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With Kristaps Porzingis dealing with an illness, Al Horford has been slotted into the starting center position for the majority of the second-round series. However, with Tatum out in Game 5, Porzingis slid back into the starting lineup for the first time since Game 1.
The 7-foot-2 Latvian was a complete non-factor in the first half, recording just one point on 0-of-3 shooting and one rebound. With Porzingis' struggling, Boston coach Joe Mazzulla elected to bench him for the entire second half as backup center Luke Kornet took most of his minutes.
Kornet was a big contributor to the Celtics' surprising win, tallying 10 points on 100% shooting, nine rebounds and seven blocks.
NBA fans were quick to sound off on social media, with some even claiming Kornet is better than Porzingis, a former All-Star.
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"It took 5 whole games for Mazzulla to realize Kornet was more viable than Porzingis this series," one fan said.
"Luke Kornet a better basketball player than Porzingis now," added another.
"Imagine if Mazzulla played Kornet over Porzingis this series lmfaooo," wrote a third.
"Luke Kornet is so much better than porzingis rn," commented a fourth.
"The Celtics genuinely are better off with Kornet out there for Porzingis right now He just isn't right," posted a fifth.
"Give all of Kristaps Porzingis's minutes to Luke Kornet," added a sixth.
Boston Celtics center Kristaps PorzingisDavid Butler II-Imagn Images
Following the win, Mazzulla gave an explanation for Porzingis not playing in the final two quarters, claiming the big man "couldn't breathe."
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The Celtics fight to see another day, but they have a tough test in Game 6 back at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The series will continue on Friday at 8:00 p.m. ET, and Boston could very well slide Kornet into the starting position over Porzingis.
Related: Steph Curry Sends Four-Word Message to Jayson Tatum After Injury Update
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