Former New York Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis was absolutely destroyed by the Madison Square Garden crown Thursday night.
Did you actually envision cheers? Did you actually convince yourself a pregame remembrance video would be played for the man of the honor? Did you actually believe it might not get as ugly as conventional wisdom would have you believe?
If so, shame on you. This is the Big Apple. These are the New York Knicks. This is Madison Square Garden, and these diehards have very little to hold on to these days, so Kristaps Porzingis’s return represents a monster night.
With the Dallas Mavericks in town, the former first-round stud made his long-awaited return to the Mecca. As expected, the fans destroyed the kid.
This is the MSG we know and love. The reaction to Kristaps Porzingis. #NewYorkForever pic.twitter.com/x2V7u7gs83
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) November 15, 2019
This is the MSG crowd so many 1990s kids fell in love with.
Obviously, it didn’t stop at introductions. MSG destroyed KP on his first touch, as well.
First possession and Porzingis’ first touch #NewYorkForever @EliteSportsNY pic.twitter.com/gMZbpqj9tB
— Danny Small (@dwsmall8) November 15, 2019
He then turned the ball over on a first-quarter sequence, much to the delight of the Garden crowd.
Quick timeout after the Porzingis turnover that leads to a score for the Knicks #NewYorkForever @EliteSportsNY pic.twitter.com/wcMDScAQXm
— Danny Small (@dwsmall8) November 15, 2019
With 3:36 remaining in the first half, Porzingis sits with 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting from the floor. He’s turned the ball over once, blocked two Knickerbockers shots and collected six boards.
The Mavs’ new lanky 7-footer has rebounded after a rough start, but the Knicks currently lead the Mavericks by a score 46-42.
Other players facing their former team are Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dennis Smith Jr. The latter came into the game off the bench and with eight points and three assists, DSJ has injected a little life into his team.
