While he briefly appeared after halftime, he went back to the locker room, and the Celtics announced he was questionable to return to the game thanks to a non-COVID illness. He did not return and the Knicks overcame a 20-point deficit to win 118-115 in overtime.

Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis missed a majority of Boston's Game 1 against the Knicks due to a non-COVID illness.

While the Knicks faltered from there and missed the playoffs, Porzingis averaged 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game and finished second in NBA Rookie of the Year voting, behind only Karl-Anthony Towns, then of the Minnesota Timberwolves.