Breaking News: Celtics’ Kristaps Porziņģis Expected to Miss Start of ECF Due to Injury
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, it is anticipated that Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porziņģis will be absent for at least the initial two games of the Eastern Conference Finals because of a strain in his right calf.
Wojnarowski reported that he may come back later in the series unless any setbacks occur.
Porziņģis has been out of action since he got injured in Game 4 of the Celtics’ series against the Miami Heat.
🚨 Injury Update 🚨 Boston Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis expected to miss “several games” due to a calf injury, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. After sitting out Game 5 vs. Miami Heat, Porzingis was spot pic.twitter.com/zM3K01jIh2
— Thomas Ashley (@JoObsidian_4945) May 3, 2024
Before getting injured, he maintained an average of 14.0 points and 5.7 rebounds in three playoff games.
Wojnarowski reported that Porziņģis is increasing his on-court work with the goal of coming back for the conference finals.
Celtics players to score 20 or more points in a game in the last 3 games:
Jayson Tatum
Jaylen Brown
Kristaps Porzingis
Derrick White
Al Horford
Sam Hauser
Payton PritchardThis team is gearing up for a DEEP playoff run. pic.twitter.com/t8UTACu4Dn
— TatumsWrld (@WrldOfTatum) March 19, 2024
During Kristaps Porziņģis’ continued absence, Horford will continue to see an increase in playing time, as he has been playing around 30 minutes per game since the fourth game of the first round.
On Wednesday, Horford had his most impressive showing of the playoffs, scoring 22 points to help the Celtics secure a Game 5 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers and advance in the series.
What a moment. Al Horford subs out to MVP chants, hugs his dad, Joe Mazzulla and every teammate on the way out.
22 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks. Hard to describe this performance pic.twitter.com/8SUmYo3Xuj
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzellNBA) May 16, 2024
Big Luke Kornet, who scored eight points in 12 minutes in the Game 5 victory, is expected to receive increased minutes as the Celtics evaluate their center depth behind Porziņģis.
Kristaps Porziņģis arrived at the Celtics last summer as part of a three-team trade, bringing with him a long history of injuries. He has played fewer than 65 games in a regular season ever since he was out for the entire 2018-19 season due to an ACL injury.
The Celtics are optimistic that the center will come back to play against either the New York Knicks or the Indiana Pacers in the upcoming round. The Knicks are currently ahead in their second-round series with a 3-2 lead and have the opportunity to advance to the conference finals by winning Game 6 on the road against the Pacers on Friday night.
No matter who the Pacers want to face, the Celtics are probably hoping for the series to go the distance on Friday night after they claim it with a Friday night victory. This may give Porziņģis an extra day or two until the final conference series.
Woj: Kristaps Porzingis (right calf) expected to miss first two games of ECF https://t.co/iEoB9dygX8
— SportsEthos Fantasy Basketball (@ethosfantasyNBA) May 18, 2024