Porzingis will miss fourth game with calf injury
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis walks off the court after the first half of a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 19 in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Kristaps Porzingis will miss the Celtics’ In-Season Tournament quarterfinal game against the Pacers in Indiana as he continues to nurse his left calf injury, the team announced.
Porzingis initially suffered the ankle injury on Nov. 24 in the Celtics’ loss to the Magic, when he left the game in the third quarter and didn’t return. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said last Monday that he would be re-evaluated in a week.
Last Tuesday, Porzingis described the injury as a “low-level, low grade strain.” While he did not believe the injury was serious, he acknowledged that the Celtics medical staff wanted to be cautious with the calf injury.
“We’re going to take it slow, but even with taking it slow, it should be a pretty quick recovery,” Porzingis said.
Monday will mark Porzingis’ fourth game missed since suffering the injury. The Celtics are 3-0 in his absence, with Al Horford filling in admirably. Horford is averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds per game since returning to the starting lineup for Porzingis.
It’s unclear when Porzingis will return, though it should come this week. The Celtics’ schedule this week is not yet complete. If they win Monday’s quarterfinal, they will advance to the tournament semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday, with a potential championship game on Saturday night. If they lose to the Pacers, they will host a regular season game on Friday night against either the Bucks or Knicks.