Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis Ruled Out for Game 5 Due to Calf Strain: What This Means for Boston

The Boston Celtics will suffer the prolonged loss of one of the elements that made them Brad Stevens in the Executive of the Year in the 2023-24 season of the NBA. The team announced that center Kristaps Porzingis is ruled out for Game 5 of the first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat with a strain in the soleus of his right calf.

The Latvian giant suffered the injury in the final minutes of the second quarter of Game 4 against Miami. Porzingis tried to dribble to the left side, but winced even though there was no contact with his leg. The center left the game and at that time he was ruled out due to tightness in his right calf. During the period in which he was on the floor at Kaseya Center he accumulated seven points and three rebounds.

Porzingis’ durability has been a constant question throughout his career. In his first year with the Celtics he appeared in 57 games due to left calf injuries, a sprained left ankle, back pain, hamstring discomfort in his right leg and inflammation in his right knee. The unicorn recorded averages of 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds during the regular season and 14 points and 5.7 boards in the playoffs.

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Kristaps Porzingis’ absence could be longer

Boston will most likely advance to the second round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs, but Kristaps Porzingis’ absence may be longer than expected due to recovery time from sole strains. According to Jeff Stotts of Rotowire, a portal specialized in injuries, the center suffered the same injury that kept Giannis Antetokounmpo off the court for the series between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers, and the recovery time is usually 17 days. The second round of the postseason is scheduled to begin between May 6 and 7.

Boston’s big man rotation consists of Al Horford, Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman. This means that Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics coach, will have to give minutes to Oshae Brissett so that the Dominican can play as ‘5’. A final option to replace Porzingis’ minutes would be to give minutes to Neemias Queta, who signed a multi-year contract with the Massachusetts organization.

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2024-04-30 22:10:18
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