The Boston Celtics tasted success so far in the playoffs without their All-Star center Kristaps Porzingis and have to manage a few more games without him as the 28-year-old hasn’t fully recovered from the soleus strain in his right calf.
According to the franchise’s updated roster, Porzingis has been ruled out from Game 2 of the Conference Finals series against the Indiana Pacers on Thursday. They won the first game of the series by 133-128 with great team effort.
Porzingis picked up the injury in the Celtics’ fourth clash against the Miami Heat in round one of the playoff series. During the game, when the former Wizards C attempted a move near the wing, he got a contactless injury and immediately walked off the court in pain. He has yet to return to the hardwood ever since.
The Cs have had some turbulence on the post-season run after his departure, but they have managed to secure crucial wins to clinch their spot in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Porzingis’ contribution in the first four games as well as in the regular season has certainly made an impact on the Celtics’ win and helped them to be where they are at the moment.
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How Was Kristaps Porzingis’ Season Before Injury?
Kristaps Porzingis has shown terrific potential in his debut season with the Celtics. Appearing in 57 games in the regular season for the franchise, the Latvian center averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.9 blocks per game.
Porzingis kept his shooting percentage from the floor at 51.6, 37.5 from the 3-point range and 85.8 from free throws. However, his average PPG (points per game) dropped after the Celtics qualified for the playoffs.
In the 4 games he played, Porzingis added 18 points twice but couldn’t showcase much in Game 2, where he struggled to shoot and finished with a 6-8-4 stat line coupled with 3 steals and 2 blocks. He suffered a blow in Game 4 with his injury, otherwise, he would have made a significant difference in the following games.
Although the franchise climbed up the top tier of the tournament without Porzingis, his presence would certainly make a positive difference, which they want as the team looks serious about collecting their 18th championship trophy. Until now, there’s no certainty of his return date, but ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the big man’s return is possible by Game 4 of the series.
Also Read: Boston Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis May Be Back for Game 4 From Calf Injury
