Michael Laughlin-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Celtics Get Agonizing Kristaps Porzingis Injury Update Ahead of Eastern Conference Finals

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Rex Villas | Last updated 5/17/24

The Boston Celtics will remain without their top big man for at least the first two games of the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals, with Kristaps Porzingis expected to be sidelined at the start of the Celtics’ series against a still-to-be-determined opponent. Porzingis is still recovering from a calf injury he suffered during the first-round showdown versus the Miami Heat.

Via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:

“Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is expected to remain sidelined for Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference finals next week, but there’s optimism he’ll be able to return sometime in the series — barring any setbacks, sources told ESPN on Friday.”

Kristaps Porzingis Still Out for the Boston Celtics Amid Injury

Despite the Latvian center’s absence, the Celtics were able to demolish the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games in the second round, finishing that series on Wednesday with a 113-98 victory at home. The Celtics have been giving veteran big man Al Horford starts since Porzingis went down with an injury.

In the series-clinching win over the Cavs, Horford showed out and helped the Celtics eliminate the Cavs with a fantastic performance, scoring 22 points and grabbing 15 boards while connecting on six of 13 shots form deep. Still, the Celtics are always going to be a better team with a higher floor and ceiling when Porzingis is healthy and running alongside Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

At the time of this writing, the Celtics are still waiting for the winner of the other Eastern Conference second-round series between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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