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This is one game Kristaps Porzingis desperately doesn’t want to miss — not after the way he performed the first time the Knicks faced the Celtics.

The opportunity to defeat the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference at home on national television is one he is relishing. And, fortunately for the Knicks, all signs point to the 7-foot-3 Latvian star returning Thursday night at the Garden, as The Post reported Tuesday. Porzingis has missed the last two games with a sore left knee.

“I want to play,” Porzingis said Wednesday after going through a full practice. “Especially remembering the last game we had against them, we want to go out there and play strong tomorrow and have a good game. I’m excited for tomorrow’s game.”


Porzingis did say he will need to get doctors’ permission to get out on the floor, and sent mixed messages about his knee. He went from saying he’s “pretty much 100 percent” to acknowledging he’s going to feel discomfort in the knee for a while. But he seemed in good spirits, and was no longer worried about making the injury worse.

Coach Jeff Hornacek said Porzingis’ availability will depend on how the knee responds to the workout.

“Today I went through the whole practice. They were trying to take me out. I wanted to stay in,” Porzingis said. “I felt great. The knee felt stable. I don’t see why I would not play tomorrow.”


Porzingis had his worst shooting game of the season against the Celtics in the first meeting.Getty Images

The Knicks could certainly use him against the Celtics (26-7) and coach Brad Stevens. In the first meeting on Oct. 24, Boston manhandled the Knicks, 110-89, and Porzingis shot just 3-of-14. He has struggled in his career against the Celtics, averaging 14.8 points in nine games while shooting 42 percent from the field. Center Al Horford frustrated Porzingis in that first game, and physical guard Marcus Smart has been used on him in the past as well.

“It’ll probably be similar to what they did the first game,” Porzingis said of the Celtics’ approach against him. “It was pretty hard for me. They were physical. All those switches and mixing it up all the time. That was something I saw for the first time. Maybe it’s going to be something different this time. But I think I’ve pretty much seen more or less all types of defenses.


“I’m learning them as I go, learning and studying and growing. But [Stevens’] mind is always on how to make it uncomfortable for the offensive player. … They do a pretty good job on me.”

The Knicks are a different team now then when they first saw the Celtics. Since the loss, they are 16-11, and they will be at home Thursday, where they are 14-5, the second-most wins of any team in its own building after the Spurs, who are 15-2.

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“We’ve grown a lot,” Porzingis said. “I think we’ve grown a lot and I think we still have a lot of growing to do. We’re on the right track. Even without [injured guard] Tim [Hardaway Jr.] we’re getting better.”

With that mind, Thursday will be a good barometer for the Knicks, especially as the scheduled toughens up with seven of the next 10 games on the road, and five of those against teams above .500. Of the Knicks’ 16 wins, only four have come against winning teams. And the defensive-minded Celtics look like a legit title contender.

“They’re a good team, look at the record,” Hornacek said. “They play hard. They really know how to pass the ball. They’re smart. If you screw up, they’ll make you pay. That’s the biggest thing against them. You have to be solid all the time.”