Justin Turpin knows a thing or two about setting the mood before the opening tip-off. On Friday night (April 4), with the TD Garden lights gleaming and the Celtics set to face off against the Phoenix Suns, the Boston sports journalist didn’t need a long-winded post to spark attention. Just four words—paired with a perfectly timed video. “Kristaps Porzingis says hello 👋” That was it. That was the tweet. Simple, almost casual. But the clip? Oh, it was far from ordinary.

There was Kristaps Porzingis—towering, composed—dapping up none other than Celtics legend Paul“The Truth” Pierce on the sidelines. It was one of those cinematic pregame moments that felt like a nod from the past to the present. A passing of the torch. A quiet exchange that said, “Let’s make some history tonight.” And then… Kristaps did just that.

Because little did anyone know, in the minutes that followed, the night would stop being about legends of the past and start being all about his moment. The spotlight shifted. The game unfolded. And Porzingis? He didn’t just say hello—he announced his presence with the kind of performance that turns heads and silences doubters. He wasn’t just the tallest guy in the arena. He became the biggest truth on the floor. A larger than life one. The process was different, though. How? 

Kristaps Porzingis didn’t just show up on Friday night—he walked into TD Garden as a man already etched into a unique slice of NBA history. Entering the clash against the Suns, the Celtics’ towering unicorn held a one-of-a-kind stat line: the only player in NBA history with multiple seasons (2) averaging 20+ points per game in under 30 minutes, across 50+ games. Efficient. Deadly. Unmatched. And for the first three quarters? He lived up to the billing.

Porzingis had his bag open early—pulling out a smooth dream shake beneath the rim that had fans flashing back to vintage post moves. He missed the finish, sure, but the footwork, the poise, the intent—it was all there. A reminder that when Porzingis is locked in, he’s a matchup nightmare wrapped in finesse and firepower. But then came the scare. Early in the fourth, with the game still in swing, Cody Martin drove hard—and accidentally caught Porzingis flush in the nose with an elbow. The big man crumpled to the floor, hands immediately going to his face. Blood visible. Silence fell. TD Garden held its breath.

Yet, just like that, Porzingis turned a frightening moment into another testament to his grit. Bleeding but composed, he rose to his feet, flashed a resilient smile, and acknowledged the roaring crowd with a wave as he made his way to the locker room. Celtics fans, visibly concerned seconds earlier, responded with thunderous applause—because that’s the kind of warrior energy Boston feeds off.

Before exiting, Porzingis had already left his imprint: 15 points, 4 rebounds, in just 23 minutes, shooting 5-of-12 from the floor. Not his flashiest stat line—but when your mere presence shifts the energy of a game, the numbers don’t always need to shout.

Because on a night when he made history, danced in the paint, and took a hit like a champion, one thing was clear: Kristaps Porzingis didn’t just say hello—he reminded Boston exactly why he’s here. But what about his availability for the next matches? Is there any update? So, here comes the Boston Celtics’ part. 

The Boston Celtics display almost a similar attitude like Kristaps Porzingis 

On Friday night, the 7’3” big man hit the floor, grabbing at his face as a hush swept over the arena. Blood. Tension. Concern. And then? A cinematic twist.

Kristaps Porzingis rose, bloodied but beaming—his grin wide, his spirit untouched. As he walked off the court toward the tunnel, he turned to the crowd. And Boston, never missing a beat, roared back in adoration. “Kristaps Porzingis just headed back to the locker room with a bloody face, and he did it with a huge smile as he and the Celtics faithful continued their love affair 💚,” wrote Marc D’Amico, the Celtics’ official insider, perfectly capturing the moment in real time.

But TD Garden wasn’t worried. They were proud. This wasn’t just their starting center leaving the floor. This was their guy, bleeding for the cause, unshaken, unfazed, and smiling like he belonged to this city all along. The crowd wasn’t sending him off in fear—they were giving him his flowers.

Minutes later, the Celtics’ official X-handle kept it cool, classic Boston understatement. “Injury Report update: Kristaps Porzingis (cut to nose requiring stitches) – QUESTIONABLE TO RETURN.” No drama. Just facts. But fans knew—even if Porzingis didn’t return to the hardwood Friday night, he had already made his mark.

Not just with numbers (15 points, 5-of-12 shooting, 4 rebounds). Not just with silky footwork or rim protection. But with the kind of grit that echoes through TD Garden like a chant. Kristaps may have exited with a bloodied nose. But Boston? They just fell a little more in love with The Unicorn.