On Saturday, March 15, Kristaps Porzingis made his return to the Boston Celtics roster. The veteran big man had missed the previous eight games due to a mystery illness. However, he showed very little signs of rust once he was out on the hardwood, scoring his first bucket within a minute of the opening tip.

Porzingis had hoped to return to the Celtics’ lineup sooner than he did. He previously teased on social media that he was going to play in the Celtics’ game against the Lakers on March 8, but he wound up sitting that day.

The Boston Celtics continue their push for a 50-win season as they prepare to host the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden on Tuesday. Despite having one of the most talented rosters in the NBA, the Celtics have faced challenges keeping their full lineup healthy.