Kristaps Porzingis is trending in the suitable route.
The Boston Celtics heart is listed as possible for Recreation 2 towards the Knicks on Wednesday night time at TD Backyard after an sickness restricted him to 13 minutes in Boston’s 108-105 extra time loss in Monday’s Recreation 1.
“He’s a little bit better,” head coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned Tuesday, a number of hours earlier than the Celtics launched their harm report. “We’ll see how he feels.”
Sam Hauser, who suffered a proper ankle sprain in Monday’s loss, is listed as uncertain for Recreation 2.
Porzingis missed eight consecutive video games in February and March with an higher respiratory sickness. Requested Tuesday if Porzingis was coping with a associated situation, Mazzulla initially mentioned he had “no idea” earlier than suggesting that the prior ailment has lingered.
“Since he came back, he’s kind of been dealing with it on and off, working through it, fighting through it, doing the best that he can,” Mazzulla mentioned.
“I think it was just too much for him in that game. I didn’t know that was going to happen until I found out about it in that game. He had been working through it since he’s gotten back, and he’s done a great job of being available. It was just tough for him to continue [in Game 1].”
The 7-3 Porzingis went scoreless on 4 shot makes an attempt within the first half. He warmed up with the Celtics earlier than the third quarter however didn’t play within the second half or extra time.
The Celtics specified that Monday’s sickness was not COVID.
“Obviously, it impacts the game with his ability on both ends of the floor,” Mazzula mentioned throughout his postgame press convention. “It obviously changes sub patterns, it changes what we’re able to do matchup-wise and play-call-frequency-wise.”
Porzingis, whom the Knicks drafted No. 4 general in 2015, averaged 19.5 factors, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per sport this season, his second with the Celtics.
He performed no less than 21 minutes in all 5 of Boston’s first-round video games towards the Orlando Magic however averaged solely 12.0 factors on 35.2% taking pictures.
After Porzingis went out Monday, the Celtics performed 38-year-old backup heart Al Horford for 34 minutes, together with the ultimate 8:47 of the fourth quarter and for all of extra time. Luke Kornet added 17 minutes off the bench.
“KP is big for us,” mentioned level guard Jrue Vacation, who missed the ultimate three video games towards the Magic with a hamstring harm earlier than returning Monday.
“Obviously, he’s so versatile. A person who can play in the paint or stretch the floor, protects the rim, protects the paint, blocks shots. We definitely miss him. We’ve always had this next-man-up mentality, and until we know what’s up with KP, we’ll just have to have that same mentality.”
Porzingis has usually given the Knicks hassle, together with in an April 8 extra time win at Madison Sq. Backyard wherein he erupted for 34 factors and shot 8-of-13 on 3-pointers.
A calf pressure, adopted by a tendon harm in his left leg, restricted Porzingis to seven video games through the Celtics’ championship run final summer time.
Initially Printed: Might 6, 2025 at 3:22 PM EDT
