Exhausted Porzingis worn down
WASHINGTON — Closing in on the season’s halfway mark, Kristaps Porzingis admitted he’s feeling wear and tear and missing Tim Hardaway Jr.
After all, this is Porzingis’ first season as No. 1 option, pressure made worse with secondary scorer Hardaway out the past 4½ weeks.
After his twopoint second half in Wednesday’s 121-103 loss to the Wizards, Porzingis couldn’t help but admit he’s very fatigued. Part of that was playing the second night of a back-to-back. Part of it was the mental toll of being under a microscope.
The 7-foot-3 Latvian hopes the milder weather in Miami will be his Fountain of Youth.
“I’m tired, I’m tired, I’m so tired right now,’’ Porzingis said in the visitor’s locker room at Capital One Arena. “I have one day to rest my legs and get back and play better and have more energy and try to bring the team’s energy up. We’re in a tough stretch. The mental part doesn’t help at all. When it’s mentally tough you don’t have it in you.’’
Porzingis finished with 16 points — an afterthought after a 14-point first half when he got calls and got to the free-throw line. He didn’t seem to be scrapping and battling as the Wizards blew out the Knicks in the second half. Even Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek admitted the slender 22-year-old wasn’t running the floor as much as he’d like.
Tuesday’s physical San Antonio loss took its toll.
“They were all focused [on] what I was doing,’’ Porzingis said of the Spurs defeat. “Wherever I went, there was contact, boom, boom, bumping me.”
He confessed the monthlong absence of Hardaway has finally caught up to the Knicks, who are 1-6 in their last seven. Hardaway could be cleared to run Saturday in Dallas and perhaps join practice on a limited basis.
“Obviously having Tim out doesn’t make it easier,’’ said Porzingis, who shot 5of-13 with three turnovers. “Hopefully Tim will be back with us soon and take some of that pressure off me and other guys.’’
Before the game, Hornacek suggested the team may think about getting the ball to Porzingis less to lighten the load and free him up for offensive rebounds.
Hornacek also said the expectations after his first MVP-like month may have been too high.
“Sometimes it’s hard to judge a guy in the first 10 games when he’s really hot,’’ Hornacek said. “We all wanted it to be the normal but he’s 22, trying to be in that role. He’s going to have great nights, going to have rough nights. Some nights the hoop looks really big, sometimes you can barely fit the ball in there.’’
Porzingis, who is averaging just 1.3 assists, got to the line for six free throws in the first half Wednesday. His recent lobbying with the officials is working.
“They’re supposed to see it,’’ Porzingis said. “They’re doing their job. Nothing to be surprised about.’’