Celtics appear to have escaped another injury scare
It’s looking like another bullet dodged by the Celtics on the injury front.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 17: Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the first quarter of the Celtic’s preseason game against the New York Knicks at TD Garden on October 17, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The calf injury that took Kristaps Porzingis out of action and accelerated the Celtics' demise in a Black Friday loss to the Magic may be just another minor bump in an otherwise clear road for the Celtics.
At least if we're to take the latest update from Porzingis himself at face value, as the 7-foot-3 took to his Instagram account and shared to his story that he got some 'good news this morning' and that he would be back very soon.
The update from Porzingis himself comes on the heels of the Celtics scheduling an MRI for Porzingis on Saturday morning, which would seemingly confirm that that MRI came back completely clean.
Porzingis believed that this would be the case, at least based on his postgame conversation with the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn following Friday's loss, and that it was indeed a 'tweak' and nothing more.
It also means that the Celtics are (for now) 3-for-3 when it comes to avoiding a Porzingis injury being anything more than a minor issue, as Porzingis arrived to camp healthy after a foot injury kept him out of the 2023 FIBA World Cup and an early-season knee contusion led to just one absence.
That said, the Celtics have ruled Porzingis out for Sunday night's showdown with the Hawks at TD Garden. But that seems to be in line with the idea of this being precautionary.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 17: Kristaps Porzingis blocks a shot from Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks during the second quarter of the preseason game at TD Garden on October 17, 2023. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
In action for 15 games this season, Porzingis is averaging 18.9 points per game, and is shooting a career-high 54.7 percent from the floor. The Latvian-born big is also averaging 6.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, and has shown some signs of developing some absolutely fantastic chemistry with Jaylen Brown.
While Porzingis remains out, the Celtics are listing Jrue Holiday (ankle sprain) as questionable for Sunday's head-to-head with Atlanta, while rookie Jordan Walsh was recalled from G-League Maine.
