The Celtics surely would have preferred to have Kristaps Porzingis in their lineup to open the season. He’s a difference-maker on both ends of the court and has a skill set no other player on Boston’s roster can replicate.

But Porzingis’ ongoing recovery from offseason leg surgery has led to longer looks for two of the Celtics’ reserve centers, and both have impressed thus far.

The latest to emerge was Neemias Queta, who moved into the startling lineup this week for the first time in his career with Porzingis and Jaylen Brown (hip) both nursing injuries.

Queta was an impact player in each of his first two NBA starts, leading the Celtics in plus/minus in both games and excelling on the offensive glass.

In Wednesday night’s 118-112 loss to the Golden State Warriors, the 25-year-old scored a season-high 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, including five at the offensive end. During one 90-second sequence in the fourth quarter, he scored on a putback dunk off a missed Sam Hauser 3-pointer, dunked again on the next Celtics possession and then denied a Stephen Curry layup for one of his two blocks in the game.

“He did a great job just getting us offensive rebounds, getting us extra possessions,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “We got out in transition. … He’s just getting better and better at understanding what the scheme is and what the tendencies are and then just the situational basketball of making reads on the defensive end. He’s definitely growing.”

Decision-making lapses still happen for Queta, who spent time in the G League last season before having his two-way contract converted into a permanent roster spot. But the Celtics have outscored opponents by 64 points with him on the floor over their last five games.

“He’s starting to realize how good he really can be,” Mazzulla told reporters after Monday’s win in Atlanta.

Queta ranks second in offensive rebounding percentage, eighth in defensive rating and sixth in net rating among all NBA players averaging at least 15 minutes per night. The Celtics even trusted him to guard Curry on the perimeter at times Wednesday — a tall task for any 7-footer.

“(Curry is) one of the greatest players the game’s ever seen,” teammate Derrick White said. “It takes a whole team to guard him. It’s not just one guy. Honestly, I thought Neemi did a good job on him. He makes tough shots; he doesn’t stop moving. Got to give a lot of credit to Neemi. He competed at a high level today, and it takes a whole team. He was one of the better ones, honestly.”

Queta and second-year wing Jordan Walsh are the only Celtics players seeing meaningful playing time this season who were not part of Mazzulla’s playoff rotation last spring.

Center Luke Kornet was less effective against Golden State but also has played well this season. He ranks in the top six among qualified players in offensive rating, net rating, offensive rebounding percentage and effective field-goal percentage, and is the league leader in true shooting percentage.

“He’s turned into a hell of a player,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said pregame.