The surging Celtics are set to get major boost to their lineup
The defending champions and winners of five straight games, the Celtics will get another lift to their roster Monday night against the Clippers, with Kristaps Porzingis expected to make his season debut.
Word of the upcoming season debut for Porzingis was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, and comes five months after Porzingis underwent a surgical procedure on his left knee.
The 7-foot-3 big man’s elevation comes just one week after the Celtics provided their own update on Porzingis, which noted that he had started to practice and work with the Maine Celtics.
The Latvian-born center’s surgery was to repair a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon, initially suffered in Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Mavericks. It was the second (and ultimately more severe) injury that Porzingis dealt with during the 2024 postseason, with a calf injury limiting him in the early stages of Boston’s successful run to Banner 18.
Acquired from the Wizards in a three-team trade in summer 2023, Porzingis truly thrived in his first season with the Celtics, with 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in 57 appearances.
Porzingis also shot what was a career-best 51.6 percent from the floor, while the Celtics posted a 10-2 record whenever Porzingis scored at least 25 points.
