BOSTON — The energy in the building was palpable from the moment TD Garden’s doors first cracked open.
On the second night of a Celtics back-to-back, and after missing the first 17 games of the NBA season, Kristaps Porzingis was slated to make his highly-anticipated return.
“I’ve been looking forward to this all day,” said one of the arena’s security guards at 4:30 pm, more than three hours before tip-off vs the Clippers.
“Now the season really begins,” said another.
In some ways, Porzingis’s return came as a surprise.