Kristaps Porzingis took responsibility for Celtics’ loss vs. Pistons

"I was terrible tonight."

Kristaps Porzingis tries to pass the ball beyond the defense of Pistons center Jalen Duren. AP Photo/Duane Burleson

February 27, 2025

3 minutes to read

Kristaps Porzingis’s postgame thoughts: Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis offered some unsparing self-commentary after the 117-97 loss against the Pistons on Wednesday night.

After fighting to tie to the game at halftime, Boston fell apart in the second half in an eventual 20-point defeat. In the aftermath, Porzingis put the blame squarely on his own shoulders.

“Just had a bad game, to be honest,” Porzingis told reporters in Detroit. “Me, especially. I was terrible tonight. We just had a really bad game. We fought. But they were physical. For them, [it] felt like it was a really important game, they really wanted to win. We battled as strong as we could, but we just fell short. We didn’t rebound the ball — especially myself. Definitely have to take some accountability and be better.”

The 29-year-old Latvian finished the game with a comparatively low 11 points and two rebounds.

Adding that Detroit played with a “really handsy, physical” style, Porzingis noted that he (like his teammates) did not adjust to the specific circumstances of the game quickly enough.

“Refs were not calling a lot of stuff,” he said. “It was one of those games that we had to adapt quick. We didn’t, especially myself. I was emotional and I was like riled up about not getting some calls that we usually get. Just not a good night for us, honestly, and that’s it.”

The Celtics are now 42-17, 6.5 games behind the Cavaliers for first place in the Eastern Conference. Boston will play Cleveland on Friday in a strong regular season test of two of the league’s top teams.

Trivia: Kristaps Porzingis was drafted fourth overall by the Knicks in 2015 (famously to the sound of boos of New York fans). Who was picked first overall that year?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: He coincidentally now plays for the Knicks.

Scores and schedules:

The Celtics lost to the Pistons 117-97 on Wednesday. Boston will face the Cavaliers in a high-profile matchup at TD Garden on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Tonight, the Bruins host the Islanders at 7 p.m.

Also today, the NFL rookie scouting combine begins its officially scheduled workouts, with defensive linemen and linebackers set to go first at 3 p.m.

More from Boston.com:

A Mass. connection: Hanson native Ally Sentnor scored her second career goal for the U.S women’s national team in style on Wednesday night, though Japan was able to prevail 2-1 in the end over the youthful American roster in the SheBelieves Cup final.

Ally Sentnor: The Equalizer 😤#USWNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/9J78Z2NMJd
— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) February 27, 2025

On this day: In 1959, the Celtics stormed past the Lakers 173-139 in a game that somehow did not include overtime. Bob Cousy finished the contest with 31 points and 28 assists, while Tommy Heinsohn totaled 43 points with 11 rebounds.

All told, the game set multiple NBA scoring records that would stand until an even more preposterous 1983 matchup between the Pistons and Nuggets finished 186-184 (though that game required three overtimes to produce such an outlandish total of points).