MAJOR SETBACKS: Celtics Star Faces Massive Injury Update Before Conference Finals
Due to a right calf strain, Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is anticipated to miss at least the opening two games of the Eastern Conference Finals, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
Porzingis has not played since Game 4 of the Celtics’ first-round series against the Miami Heat due to a non-contact strain injury. In three postseason starts prior to the injury, he averaged 14.0 points and 5.7 rebounds.
Veteran center Al Horford is anticipated to see more playing time while Porzingis is out. Since Game 4 of the first round, Horford has played an average of almost thirty minutes every game. He put up a fantastic performance on Wednesday, scoring 22 points to help the Celtics defeat the Cavaliers in Game 5 and move on to the conference finals.
Porzingis is increasing his on-court activity in an attempt to make a comeback during the conference finals, according to Wojnarowski. The Celtics are still hopeful that Porzingis will make a comeback to play the Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks in the following round.
With a Game 6 victory over the Pacers on Friday night, the Knicks, who now lead their second-round series 3-2, might go to the conference finals.
The Celtics are probably praying that the Pacers win on Friday night in order to push the series to seven games, regardless of who they would prefer to play. Porzingis might benefit from an extra day or two of recuperation time as a result.
Porzingis brought a lengthy injury history to the Celtics when he was traded to them last summer. Since missing the 2018–19 season due to an ACL injury, he has not participated in more than 65 games during a regular season.
