The Boston Celtics were temporarily down another starter Wednesday night.
A bloodied Kristaps Porzingis exited Game 2 against the Orlando Magic after the Celtics center was elbowed in the forehead during a loose ball foul called against Goga Bitadze of Orlando.
The incident happened with 1:04 remaining in the third quarter as the Celtics led 77-66. Bitadze was attempting to rebound a miss from Paolo Banchero when he flailed his arms and elbowed Porzingis in the forehead. The contact to Porzingis’ head opened a large gash, which bled profusely as he laid on the court at TD Garden. Porzingis was helped up and immediately went to clean up.
Bitadze was called for a loose ball foul, which was upgraded to a Flagrant Foul 1 after officials determined that ‘there was windup and significant impact by Bitadze to the head of Porzingis.’
The Celtics are already without Jayston Tatum, who was ruled out with a right distal radius bone bruise.
Porzingis was all smiles as he returned with a large X-shaped bandage on his forehead to shoot two free throws. Blood streaks could be seen through his buzz cut and around his nose. He made one of two before checking back out of the game and heading to the locker room. If Porzingis had not returned to shoot the free throws, he would not have been eligible to return to the game later.
And return he did, with 7:15 remaining in the fourth quarter and Boston up 90-82. TNT later reported he received five stitches.
Porzingis had 20 points (5-of-13 FG, 0-of-5 3PT, 10-of-14 FT) upon his exit. He finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in the Celtics’ 109-100 win.
Boston leads the series against the Magic 2-0. Game 3 is Friday at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN).
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