NBA: Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis hit in head, gushes blood

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) is helped off the court after being cut by an elbow to the head against the Orlando Magic during the second half of game two of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

BOSTON— Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis went to the locker room with a gash on his forehead but returned to shoot a pair of free throws after taking an elbow from Goga Bitadze of the Magic in the third quarter of Game 2 of Boston’s NBA first-round playoff matchup with Orlando on Wednesday night.

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Porzingis and Bitadze both went up for a rebound and Bitadze caught Porzingis in head on the way to ground with 55 seconds remaining in the quarter. A video review by officials determined Bitadze had wound up and thrust his elbow into Porzingis, and he was assessed a flagrant foul.

During the review, Porzingis emerged from the locker room to a loud ovation, with dried blood streaking down the back of his head and a bandage on the center of his forehead. He re-entered the game and connected on one of two free throws before exiting again.

The Celtics led 81-71 entering the fourth quarter. Porzingis returned to the bench area midway through the period, with the dried blood cleaned from his head, and he re-entered the game with 7:15 left.

They beat the visiting Magic 109-100 to take a 2-0 lead in the first round series.