The Boston Celtics took a commanding 2-0 lead of their first-round collection with the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, however not with out selecting up some bumps and bruises — or, in Kristaps Porzingis’ case, gashes.
Porzingis went to the locker room with a gash on his brow however returned to shoot a pair of free throws after taking an elbow from Goga Bitadze of the Magic within the third quarter of Sport 2 of Boston’s first-round playoff matchup with Orlando on Wednesday night time.
Porzingis and Bitadze each went up for a rebound and Bitadze caught Porzingis in head on the best way to floor with 55 seconds remaining within the quarter. A video assessment by officers decided Bitadze had wound up and thrust his elbow into Porzingis, and he was assessed a flagrant foul.
In the course of the assessment, Porzingis emerged from the locker room to a loud ovation, with dried blood streaking down the again of his head and a bandage on the middle of his brow. He re-entered the sport and linked on one among two free throws earlier than exiting once more.
The Celtics led 81-71 coming into the fourth quarter. Porzingis returned to the bench space halfway by way of the interval, with the dried blood cleaned from his head, and he re-entered the sport with 7:15 left.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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