Kristaps Porzingis On A Tear Over His Past Two Games
New York Knicks big-man Kristaps Porzingis bursted onto the scene in 2015-16 as the second best rookie in the NBA. The “boos” on draft night from false hearted Knicks fans turned into whopping cheers the second he stepped on the floor as a rookie. Porzingis had one of the most impressive rookie seasons in Knicks history, and his sophomore season is expected to be greater. It has been, to say the least.
Over his last two games, the 7’3” Latvian star has been on an absolute tear. The New York Knicks have relied on Porzingis as of late because of Carmelo Anthony’s shooting woes; Anthony’s shot has been flat, failing to knock down 30% of his attempts in back-to-back games. Porzingis picked up the slack, though, averaging 30.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.0 blocks per game while knocking down seven threes over the past two games at an 87.5% clip.
In Sunday’s 118-112 win over Los Angeles, Kristaps Porzingis dominated, stuffing-the-stat-sheet with 26 points, 12 rebounds, 7 blocks, and 2 assists while shooting 8/15 from the floor and 3/4 from deep. He did not commit a turnover all game. The sophomore giant knocked down clutch shots down the stretch leading New York to their 14th win of the season. Two nights later, Porzingis played the most intense game of his life. After getting into a scuffle with Phoenix Suns forward Marquese Chriss where both players received technical fouls, Porzingis turned up the intensity hitting two free-throws along with two straight bucked. Porzingis rode the adrenaline for the rest of the game, finishing with 34 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 3 steals on 12/23 shooting and 4/4 threes before fouling out in overtime. He scored 14 points in the fourth quarter alone. New York lost to Phoenix in a heartbreaker, 113-111.
Kristaps Porzingis admitted his scuffle with Chriss energized the entire team. “I think it fired up the whole team. Just showing that you stand up for yourself and have teammates that have your back, and that’s the team spirit,” he said.
Kristaps Porzingis’ red-hot start to the 2016-17 season potentially may make him an All-Star. With not too many great power forward/centers in the Eastern Conference, Porzingis may have a very solid chance of making the team.
Porzingis is averaging 20.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.3 assists per game throughout 25 games for New York this season. He is shooting 46% from the field and 40% from three-point range.