Celtics have Kristaps Porzingis update ahead of Game 1 of NBA Finals
Kristaps Porziņģis is on track to be back.
(UPDATE: Porzingis is in fact back in the Celtics’ lineup for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, but he will not start. According to Shams Charania, he will come off the bench, with Al Horford starting.)
The Boston Celtics big man is expected to return for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, according to NBA insider Shams Charania. That’s “barring a setback” in his return from a soleus strain in his right calf.
Porzingis has “completed multiple scrimmages in recent days,” according to Charania. One can expect the Celtics will exercise an abundance of caution with Porzingis in the lead-up to Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, considering there’s still the apparent possibility of a setback in his recovery.
The star big man has been out for just over a month with the calf strain. He left Game 4 of the first round against the Miami Heat early with the injury. He averaged 14 points per game in the first three contests against Miami prior to getting hurt.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 27: Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball against the Miami Heat during the first quarter in game three of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Kaseya Center on April 27, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Clearly, the injury has not stopped the Celtics from continuing to have success in the playoffs. They’re 12-2 through three rounds, and are coming off a sweep of the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. They’re riding a seven-game winning streak entering the NBA Finals against the Mavs.
The Celtics went 2-2 against Dallas in the regular season, most recently winning 138-110 in Boston on March 1. Porzingis scored 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting (.571) in that game.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Celtics and Mavericks will top off at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday night at TD Garden.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
