NBA
Kristaps Porzingis injury update: will the Celtics center play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals?
Porzingis missed Boston’s sweep of the Indiana Pacers but has set his sights on a return in the championship series.
The Boston Celtics completed a sweep of the Indiana Pacers to reach the 2024 NBA Finals, with their early finish potentially giving them, and power forward/center Kristaps Porzingis, a big boost ahead of Game 1 against either the Dallas Mavericks or the Minnesota Timberwolves.
When is Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals?
Despite three close match-ups out of four, Joe Mazzulla’s team ultimately won the Eastern Conference Finals with three games to spare, giving them a lengthy - and welcome - break before the championship series gets underway on Thursday 6 June.
Game 1: Mavericks / Timberwolves @ Celtics - 6 June
Game 2: Mavericks / Timberwolves @ Celtics - 9 June
Game 3: Celtics @ Mavericks / Timberwolves - 12 June
Game 4: Celtics @ Mavericks / Timberwolves - 14 June
*Game 5: Mavericks / Timberwolves @ Celtics - 17 June
*Game 6: Celtics @ Mavericks / Timberwolves - 20 June
*Game 7: Mavericks / Timberwolves @ Celtics - 23 June
* if required
As a result, the Celtics are increasingly confident Porzingis will be fit to return to action for the start of the NBA Finals, as The Athletic’s NBA insider Shams Charania revealed to FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back” show.
“There’s definitely hope. There’s definitely optimism. There are still some hurdles, I’m told, that he has to clear before he can play in Game 1 of the Finals, but there’s of course hope that this next week-plus will give him the time that he needs to ramp up and get ready for that Game 1 next Thursday.”
What injury does Porzingis have? How long has he been out?
The 28-year-old hasn’t played since 29 April, when he suffered a soleus strain in his right calf in the first half of Game 4 of the first-round series against the Miami Heat.
Porzingis has missed the Celtics’ last 10 games because of the issue, and they have done just fine without him, winning nine of them. However, his return would undoubtedly be an additional shot in the arm for Boston, who have long been favourites to win their first NBA title in 16 years.
The Celtics will feature in the Finals for the 23rd time, second only to the Los Angeles Lakers, who have appeared on a record 32 occasions.
It should be noted, though, that both teams have won 17 NBA Championships, meaning Boston (77.3%) have a far superior win percentage to the Californians (53.1%).