Kristaps Porziņģis
Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porziņģis, who has been out since April 29 after suffering a right soleus strain (calf), could return “as soon as” Monday, when the C’s visit the Indiana Pacers for Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Finals series.
Porziņģis suffered the injury during the second quarter of the Celtics’ 102-88 road win over the Miami Heat in Game 4 of their first round playoff series.
“I rolled my ankle the play before on offense,” Porziņģis told reporters on May 4, per Celtics senior writer Taylor Snow.
“I was going for a rebound and I stepped on (Tyler) Herro and rolled my ankle. Came back, maybe started to compensate with the other side a little bit too much or something, I don’t know. Maybe just happened.
And then yeah, as soon as I pushed off, I felt something. And you saw my reaction on the court.”
Al Horford has entered the starting lineup in Porziņģis’ place, with Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman seeing more time as backups.
The 28-year-old Porziņģis has averaged 20.1 points on 51.6 percent shooting, 7.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 57 regular-season games.
There’s growing optimism that Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis could make his return to the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Indiana Pacers as soon as Game 4 on Monday, sources told ESPN.
Porzingis has been making progress from a soleus strain of his right calf, accelerating his on-court ramp up and increasing his fitness to make his conference finals debut possible once the best-of-seven series returns to Indianapolis, sources said.
