Woj: Celtics’ Kristaps Porziņģis Could Return from Injury for ECF Game 4 vs. Pacers

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIMay 22, 2024

Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images

Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porziņģis, who has been out since April 29 after suffering a right soleus strain (calf), could return “as soon as” Monday, when the C’s visit the Indiana Pacers for Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Finals series.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the news on Tuesday’s edition of NBA Countdown:

Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespnReporting for ESPN NBA Countdown on Kristaps Porzingis’ looming return for the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals pic.twitter.com/xKSIPQpR48

Porziņģis suffered the injury during the second quarter of the Celtics’ 102-88 road win over the Miami Heat in Game 4 of their first round playoff series.

“I rolled my ankle the play before on offense,” Porziņģis told reporters on May 4, per Celtics senior writer Taylor Snow.

“I was going for a rebound and I stepped on (Tyler) Herro and rolled my ankle. Came back, maybe started to compensate with the other side a little bit too much or something, I don’t know. Maybe just happened. And then yeah, as soon as I pushed off, I felt something. And you saw my reaction on the court.”

Al Horford has entered the starting lineup in Porziņģis’ place, with Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman seeing more time as backups.

The 28-year-old Porziņģis has averaged 20.1 points on 51.6 percent shooting, 7.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 57 regular-season games.

The Celtics have gone 46-15 including playoffs with Porziņģis but have somehow posted an even better winning percentage without him (26-5). That’s not an indictment on Porziņģis. Rather, it points to the talent and depth of this Celtics team, which has far and away been the best NBA squad this year.

Boston is No. 1 in offensive rating, No. 3 in defensive rating and No. 1 in net rating, per Basketball Reference. The Celtics have two superstars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, two excellent 3-and-D ball-handling guards in Derrick White and Jrue Holiday and numerous veterans of varying experience who round out the NBA’s best rotation going (e.g. Horford, Payton Pritchard).

Adding Porziņģis back to the mix is a bonus for a team that could very well win it all without him, but he looks good to go in a week’s time. For now, the Celtics have to deal with the underdog No. 6 seed Pacers, who have constructed a fantastic playoff run to get this far.

Game 1 is Tuesday, followed by Game 2 on Thursday and Game 3 on Saturday. Then eyes turn toward Porziņģis and his potential availability for Game 4 Monday.