Kristaps Porzingis was back at the Garden on Friday night for the first time this season, returning with his new team, the Wizards, following a trade deadline deal from Dallas.
The spurned New York fans were ready for him again, of course, booing the former hometown All-Star before and throughout the Knicks’ 100-97 victory to leapfrog Washington into 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings.
“I enjoy this. I enjoy playing at MSG, whether it’s at home before or now on the road. It’s always entertaining,” said Porzingis, who scored a team-high-tying 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in 29 minutes. “The biggest stage, and again, receiving the boos. It is what it is.
“It’s in the past now. I love the city. I miss this city a lot. I miss a lot of people here. Yeah, it is what it is, but I really enjoyed my time here and I only have good memories from this place.”
Porzingis even shook hands with Knicks owner James Dolan…