BOSTON — Kristaps Porziu0146u0123is ripped off the shirt that said “Walton” on it, rising to a standing ovation upon playing for the first time in a month — then proceeded to play like the missing piece from the second-to-last Celtics championship.
Players from the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks honored the late NBA great, Bill Walton, by wearing a shirt with his name on it to start the NBA Finals, and Porziu0146u0123is, perhaps unknowingly, evoked the best possible tribute to the fan favorite.
He didn’t solely set the tone, but everything he did was loud as the Celtics struck first in this best-of-seven series and sent a resounding message in Game 1 with a 107-89 win at TD Garden.