Five months after surgery, Kristaps Porzingis makes his season debut

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said he knew about a week ago that Kristaps Porzingis would make his season debut Monday night.

Porzingis returned to action against the Clippers after missing the first 17 games while recovering from ankle surgery.

There will be an adjustment period as the Celtics reintegrate him on offense, Mazzulla said. Seeing how the 7-foot-2 center fits into spacing with his teammates, as well as how opponents choose to guard him, will help over time.

“It will take some time, just to figure out how teams are going to protect him and that will kind of dictate how we proceed from there,” Mazzulla said. “But he definitely brings a different level of offense, whether it’s our shot selection, spacing or different coverages that teams play against us.”

Porzingis is comfortable playing both the high and low post. He is also a career 36 percent 3-point shooter who can stretch the floor with his perimeter shooting.

The Celtics are making a season-high 50.5 3-point attempts per game, up from 42.5 last season. Mazzulla said he’s not targeting a particular number of 3-point attempts on any given night and it’s all about generating the best looks possible.

The coach said Porzingis’ return could change what he considers good shooting.

“Just take the best shot you can, and that will change with KP coming back,” Mazzulla said. “It will change when he is on the ground, off the ground, whether we are small‚ or big. All of these things come into play. Ultimately, it’s about making sure we know the coverage, doing the best job we can to create the advantage, and making the best shot possible on every possession.

Porzingis’ length and athleticism will also change how the Celtics are able to attack their matchups on defense, Mazzulla said.

“With him you can play differently,” he said. “You can obviously change less, keep your matchups a little different. We haven’t had as much versatility with him, so we’ll look to have a little more versatility.

When asked if Porzingis would be on a minutes restriction, Mazzulla said he would simply do what’s best for the team.

“He worked hard. He’s in good shape,” Mazzulla said. “We’ll put him in a position to be healthy and successful and do what’s best for the team and I think he’s pretty consistent depending about his work ethic and what he did to get here.”

Jeff Van Gundy receives his ring

After spending a season as a senior consultant with the Celtics last year, Jeff Van Gundy left to join the Clippers as an assistant coach.

According to the Clippers coach Tyron LueVan Gundy received his championship ring from the Celtics before Monday’s game.

Lue reflected on the beginnings of his coaching career in Boston and what it felt like to see Van Gundy get his first championship ring after spending decades in the coaching business.

“It’s a special place. This is where I made my first debut, the opportunity to coach with Doc [Rivers]“, Lue said. “Danny Aingé gave me the opportunity to become a coach. It was a big step in my coaching career. [Brian] Shaw got drafted here and JVG got his first ring, a guy who worked so hard over the years and put in so much work and time to win a championship in Boston last year, that was good for him.

A unique view of Jayson Tatum’s Olympic experience

Lue, who was an assistant coach on Team USA’s coaching staff this summer, said he offered some words of encouragement to Jayson Tatum as he was benched twice during his gold medal run.

“I talk to him before, after and during – he’s my cousin so it’s hard to see him and what he was feeling, I know he wanted to play,” Lue said. “Being All-NBA three years in a row and the type of player he has become since he came into the league, I know it was tough for him.”

“So my job as a coach and as a family member is just to make sure he stays positive.” It was a difficult moment but we overcame it. We won gold and I was happy for him and the way he performed.

Wishes granted

Monday was Make-A-Wish night at TD Garden. Tatum met with five kids before the game, including Mason Doran Hooda 12-year-old Canadian who was diagnosed with severe hemophilia B.

On Sunday, participants and their family members took a private duck tour and hosted a viewing party at Causeway Boston for the Celtics-Timberwolves game.