An old enemy in new digs punished the Knicks on opening night.
Kristaps Porzingis went from booed during introductions to taunted in a profane chant to taking over down the stretch of Boston’s 108-104 comeback victory Wednesday night.
The Latvian looked like Larry Bird in green and white, dropping 30 points against his former team, including nine in the final 2 ¹/₂ minutes while the Knicks’ offense went ice cold.
“That was awesome,” Porzingis said. “I can’t lie.”
Porzingis added four blocks and expertly guarded the paint against the Knicks, who managed just three total points after holding a 101-95 advantage with 3:39 minutes remaining. With two minutes left, Porzingis was whistled for a technical after elbowing Isaiah Hartenstein under the basket. It prompted the MSG crowd, still bitter over the 7-foot-3 center demanding a trade in 2019, to break out a “F— Porzingis” chant.
Porzingis responded with two clutch free throws and a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions.
That swung the momentum for good.
“Obviously the crowd was chanting that, and for me it was fun,” Porzingis said. “I was enjoying all that and looking at it as motivation. Motivation to make plays at the end.
“It was actually really, really fun to be in that type of environment.”
It was an ugly night for Julius Randle, in particular, who has a stated goal of increasing his efficiency this season.
In Game 1, the power forward missed 17 of his 22 shots, including a few gimmes under the basket.
The 14 points in 32 minutes came in Randle’s first game since undergoing minor ankle surgery in the offseason.
Jalen Brunson wasn’t much better while shooting 6-for-21 with 15 points and six assists.
“Obviously we didn’t play the best that we want,” Brunson said. “Playing against a team like that, at home, it just shows us what we need to do to be better. There’s a lot of positives to take from it, but still gotta learn.”
The Knicks were led by Immanuel Quickley, who, two nights after failing to agree to a contract extension, dropped 24 points on 7 of 11 shooting.
His shooting carried the Knicks in the beginning of the fourth quarter, when the home team rode a 13-2 run to take its first lead of the contest.
But they couldn’t hold onto it.
Mostly because of Porzingis and their own missed shots.
“We missed a couple bunnies, missed some free throws, and then they made down the stretch,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Because you’re putting two on the ball you’re put in rotation, but you can’t be late. You have to understand the fourth quarter is different. Decisions are made differently.”
The Knicks touted their continuity all preseason, believing familiarity and cohesion would breed success.
Then they trotted out the same lineup as last season — Brunson, Quentin Grimes (11 points, 23 minutes), Barrett (24 points, 36 minutes), Randle and Robinson (two points, 22 minutes).
Thibodeau, as expected, utilized a nine-man rotation.
The only change from last season was inserting Donte DiVincenzo, who logged 15 scoreless minutes in a disappointing Knicks debut.
Josh Hart, at only 6-foot-4, served as the backup power forward, replacing Obi Toppin at that spot.
The first half was a mess for the Knicks. Brunson and Randle combined to shoot 3-for-19, with Randle missing open layups.
Boston countered with 34 combined first-half points from Porzingis and Jayson Tatum.
Still, strong minutes from Quickley and Barrett kept the Knicks competitive.
A late surge in the second quarter cut the deficit to five at the break, leaving the impression the home team could launch a comeback and win if its best players obliged.
They never did. Porzingis came through, though.
