The Celtics' big man had dealt with an illness during the regular season, so it seemed that it lingered with him. It clearly impacted Porzingis while on the court, and he simply couldn't provide Boston with the production that the team needed. After Game 6, Porzingis addressed the illness, admitting that he wasn't even sure he knew what it was.

Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis, who is under contract for $30.7MM next season before hitting free agency in 2026, struggled mightily in the playoffs due to the lingering effects of a mysterious illness he contracted in February.