The Celtics seven-game homestand was billed as a chance to make a statement to the league. With a slew of contenders coming to TD Garden, all comers for the throne would have to see how they measured up to the champs. And while a 5-2 record that included wins against the Nuggets and Lakers was notable, the absence of Kristaps Porzingis in close losses to conference leaders Cleveland and Oklahoma City produced some guarded optimism that with the big man, the results might have been different.
And after such a positive output in his first game back against the Nets, you’d be hard-pressed to not think that we could be looking at a nine-game winning streak.