With Kristaps Porzingis dealing with an illness, Al Horford has been slotted into the starting center position for the majority of the second-round series. However, with Tatum out in Game 5, Porzingis slid back into the starting lineup for the first time since Game 1.

Kristaps Porzingis struggled in the first half against the Knicks and was replaced in the starting lineup at halftime.

The Boston Celtics forced a Game 6 with a dominant win over the New York Knicks, but they had to do so without their starting big man for most of the game.