Kristaps Porzingis is one tough S.O.B.
After taking an elbow to the middle of his forehead from Orlando Magic’s Goga Bitadze, the Boston Celtics big man laid on the floor with blood gushing from his face.
X/@SPORTSCENTERPorzingis was dazed after taking a shot to the face[/caption]
Porzingis ran to the locker room with a towel on his forehead, as blood continued to drip down his face.
He waved his arms to the crowd, hyping them up as he exited, while letting the home fans know that he was fine.
The officials went to the monitor to review the play for a flagrant foul.
They deemed the contact from Bitadze to be enough for a Flagrant 1.
However, if Porzingis didn’t return to shoot the pair of free throws, he would not be allowed to reenter for the rest of the game.
He returned moments later, running out of the tunnel with a huge bandage on his face.
The TD Garden crowd gave him a roaring standing ovation.
“Like Rocky Balboa at the free-throw line,” play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle said on the broadcast.
Porzingis made one of two.
He immediately left the game after shooting the pair, presumably going to get stitched up.
However, he wasn’t out for long.
He returned at the 7:15 mark of the fourth quarter, with the Celtics holding on to a 90-82 lead.
