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The Boston Celtics were set to take on the Miami Heat at 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday night with a possible trip to the Eastern Conference Semifinals on the line. The Celtics led the Heat 3-1 heading into their Game Five matchup in Beantown and the health status of Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis became a key focus.
The game was expected to tip it off on Wednesday without the services of the man dubbed the ‘Unicorn’ and several potential adjustments were mentioned for Coach Joe Mazzulla and his staff. Celtics star Jayson Tatum also got real on his ‘anger’ following an injury he suffered in Game Four.
Porzingis has a calf injury, one that Mazzulla did not shy away from mentioning at his press conference. Now Celtics fans and Porzingis teammates like Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are preparing for life without their star center.
Porzingis, Celtics Get Injury Timeline
Mazzulla sounded ready to move on as he spoke about the Kristaps Porzingis situation at a news conference prior to Game Five. He started off by saying he is “not sure” about when exactly the big man will be back, continuing by saying that the Celtics are planning to “give it a week” to “kinda see where he’s at” before moving forward.
"Just give it a week and kinda see where he’s [Kristaps Porzingis] at. Kinda see how he responds to the treatment.”
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla gives an update on Porzingis' calf injury
(via @danield1214) pic.twitter.com/shIJFcWAAb
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 1, 2024
“Go Champ,” one reader said in the comments section with a trophy emoji attached.
“KP,” another fan said with a clapping hands emoji.
Courtside Report Casts Doubt on Porzingis Return
A courtside report from reporter Chris Haynes casted doubt on Porzingis’ possible return for the team’s next series.
According to Haynes, Porzingis is “likely out” for the next round and the new target for a return is the Eastern Conference Finals.
"He is likely out for next series as well. The hope is that he can make a return if the Celtics were to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals."
Chris Haynes on a potential timeline for Kristaps Porzingis, who has a right calf strain.
(via @NBAonTNT)pic.twitter.com/StbyC0znRQ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 1, 2024
Balanced Scoring Leads Celtics
The Celtics are getting balanced scoring this postseason as Derrick White has stepped up to provide help for Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and the rest of the Celtics. White, Brown and Tatum are each averaging between 21 and 23 points, respectively, with Tatum leading the team in scoring. Each player is averaging over 35 minutes per game this series and the team’s new ‘Big 3’ is shooting over 20 three-pointers per game combined.
The Celtics’ outside shooting is well known as a team strength, but Porzingis’ presence in the paint was also a team strength before his injury. His 1.5 blocks per game this postseason led the team and his 7.3 rebounds per game was second behind Tatum.
In Porzingis’ stead, veteran big man Al Horford will likely be forced to play more minutes, and the Celtics could go smaller with more playing time for forward Sam Hauser. Porzingis will be missed, and could be needed in time for future playoff series including a possible Finals showdown with Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.
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