The Boston Celtics have been without their star big man, Kristaps Porzingis, since Game 4 of their first-round series against the Miami Heat. However, there’s hope that he could be back in action soon. On Friday, two days after Porzingis pledged to return “soon” on social media, he participated in at least some of Boston’s practice, according to coach Joe Mazzulla.
Joe Mazzulla Opens up on Kristaps Porzingis
Mazzulla provided an update on Porzingis, stating, “He’s getting better. He’s out there shooting. He went through a couple of drills in practice, so he’s progressing well and confident where he’s at right now.” The Celtics are set to host the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals next Thursday, June 6. When asked if he’s confident that Porzingis will be on the court for the opener, Mazzulla remained coy, saying, “I’m confident where he’s at on whatever day today is.”
Porzingis, in a post translated from his native Latvian, expressed gratitude to everyone who supported him throughout the season. He wrote, “Thank you to everyone who supports and sympathizes throughout the season. I’ll be back in line soon. See you in the finals.” Additionally, he indicated his intention to play for the Latvian national team in this summer’s Olympic qualifying tournament.
“He did everything the team did… We'll go significantly harder tomorrow."
Joe Mazzulla on Kristaps Porzingis' update from practice today 🗣️
(via @NoaDalzellNBA)pic.twitter.com/efCns53zq6
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 1, 2024
During the regular season, Kristaps Porzingis played in 57 games for the Celtics. Unfortunately, he suffered a strained soleus (one of the two calf muscles) on April 29 against the Heat, sidelining him ever since. Reports at the time suggested a possible return during the Eastern Conference finals, but that never materialized. Mazzulla assured reporters that Porzingis hadn’t experienced any setbacks and was “working really hard to get back.”
The upcoming NBA Finals will feature a reunion between Porzingis and his former team, the Dallas Mavericks. He played for Dallas from 2019 until the 2022 trade deadline, at which point he was sent to the Washington Wizards. On the other side, the Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving previously played for Boston from 2017 until 2019 before joining the Brooklyn Nets in free agency.
Despite Porzingis’ absence, the Celtics navigated the Eastern Conference playoffs relatively unscathed, going 12-2 against the Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Indiana Pacers. Now, all eyes are on whether Porzingis will make a triumphant return in time for the NBA Finals.
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