Eastern Conference Title On The Line In Game 7

Kristaps Porziņģis Powers Celtics to Commanding Game 6 Victory

Eastern Conference Title on the Line in Game 7

Porziņģis Returns with a Bang, Inspires Celtics to Dominant Performance

After missing the last 10 games with a calf injury, Kristaps Porziņģis returned to action for the Boston Celtics on Thursday night, making an immediate impact in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat.

Porziņģis poured in 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, leading the Celtics to a resounding 107-89 victory at the TD Garden. The win forces a winner-take-all Game 7 on Saturday night in Miami.

With Porziņģis back in the lineup, the Celtics looked like a completely different team. They shot 50% from the field, dished out 27 assists, and held the Heat to just 39% shooting.

"He's a huge part of what we do," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said after the game. "He brings us size, athleticism, and shooting. He's a mismatch nightmare for other teams."

Porziņģis was particularly dominant in the first half, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to help the Celtics build a 20-point lead. He also made several key plays down the stretch, including a clutch three-pointer with just over two minutes remaining.

With Porziņģis back in the fold, the Celtics are now one win away from reaching the NBA Finals. Game 7 is scheduled for Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.