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New York Knicks: Kristaps Porzingis’ five best performances from the 2017-18 season

By Maxwell Ogden

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 31: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks. is introduced before the game against the Boston Celtics on January 31, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 31: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks. is introduced before the game against the Boston Celtics on January 31, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 12: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks in action against Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2017 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Lakers 113-109 in overtime. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 12: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks in action against Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2017 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Lakers 113-109 in overtime. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

2. Making History Against The Lakers

By his own account, Kristaps Porzingis grew up idolizing Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. While most have compared Porzingis to Dirk Nowitzki, the player whom he actually patterns his offensive game after is The Black Mamba.

Thus, it’s only fitting that arguably the best performance of Porzingis’ career thus far—and the only showing of its kind— came against Bryant’s former team.

Porzingis dominated the Lakers, recording 37 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks, one steal, and an assist in 40 minutes of action. He shot 14-of-26 from the field, buried five of his eight three-point field goal attempts, and went 4-of-5 at the free throw line.

Porzingis scored four points during the final 2:06 of the fourth quarter, added had three critical blocks during the final period of regulation, and put the game away in overtime.

The context of Porzingis’ stellar showing is that it was historic in its statistical nature. It was the first and only time in NBA history that a player has recorded at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks, and five three-point field goals made in a single game.

One could easily make a case that this should be the No. 1 game on this list, but even at No. 2, it sits alone in the history of this beautiful league.

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