IT’S KRISTAPS TIME IN THE CITY
KP VOWS TO PLAY SUNDAY
Kristaps Porzingis has looked forward to playing in his first Christmas game since the NBA schedule came out in August.
Wearing a protective brace on his bruised right knee, Porzingis didn’t practice fully Friday but predicted the extra day of rest will allow for a Merry Kristaps at noon Sunday. Porzingis has played in all 29 of the Knicks’ games this season.
“I didn’t go through the whole practice but did the non-contact stuff,” Porzingis said. “What’s today? Friday. We still got Saturday. I’ll be ready.”
Porzingis said he is suffering from “inflammation of the bone and tendon.”
After banging knees with Nikola Vucevic in the opening minute of the fourth quarter against the Magic on Thursday, Porzingis limped off the court to the locker room and didn’t come back.
“[Team officials] were holding me back,” Porzingis said of practice. “I still feel a little bit of pain. Nothing major and getting better. It was a sharp pain at that moment. I couldn’t put any pressure.”
The Spanish League takes Christmas off, and the Knicks, coming off a 17-win campaign, were banished from the holiday card last season, when the 7foot-3 Latvian was a rookie.
“It’s going to be huge,” Porzingis said. “At the Garden? The [home] games already have unbelievable atmosphere. I can’t imagine Sunday. I’m looking forward to it.
“Just wearing the Christmas jerseys is special. Everything about it. You want to have a good Christmas winning the game and celebrating with your family. It’s a big game for us.”
It’s a big game in the Eastern Conference standings and a statement game. At 16-13, the Knicks trail the Celtics (17-12) by one game for third place in the East.
In the past, Boston coach Brad Stevens has employed physical guard Marcus Smart against Porzingis — and it has worked.
“I now know what to expect, and I think the rest of the team knows we have to use that advantage right away,” Porzingis said.
Porzingis said his goal is to play all 82 games to prove “a skinny European” can do so.
“I want to do it just to prove I can do it, if my body can hold up,” said Porzingis, who played in 72 games last season. “I’m really paying a lot of attention to recovery. I know I can.” Playing this one counts the most. “Last year, we didn’t play on Christmas Day, and the Knicks always play,” said Porzingis, whose parents are in town from Latvia. “I was happy when I looked at the schedule [and saw] we did. I knew it would be special. No better place to do it than New York.”