Kristaps Porzingis, out with an injury during Game 4 against the Heat, suffers from a tight soleus muscle – in the calf – and is expected to miss at least a few games. The exact duration of unavailability has not been communicated.
On Monday, the images of Kristaps Porzingis’ false move just before the break could be frightening. But the results of the examinations carried out by the Celtics pivot do not show any serious injury. If no tendon is affected, the Latvian suffers from a contracture of the soleus muscle.
Although too big a boo-boo was avoided, it is a real blow for the Celtics. This is the same calf injury that forced Giannis Antetokounmpo to miss the end of the regular season and the start of the Playoffs. The Greek has not set foot on a court since April 9 (exactly three weeks ago)…
Celtics C Kristaps Porzingis is expected to miss a minimum of several games with the right soleus strain, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 30, 2024
Already announced OUT for Game 5 against Miami, the big question now concerns the duration of unavailability and the extent of this “several” {several, editor’s note), used by insider Adrian Wojnarowski. If it seems almost certain that Porzingis’ return will not take place in this first round, it is impossible at this time to determine a date with precision. Boston will have to get its bearings without its pivot who started the start of the Playoffs and 57 regular season games. He could miss, in the worst case, up to several weeks of competition.
The conference semi-finals are likely to begin this coming weekend, while a possible next round will be held in mid-May. But before all that, the series against the Heat is not yet over. Without Kristaps Porzingis inside, Al Horford will undoubtedly replace him in the Celtics’ major five, while Luke Kornet could have a more important role coming off the bench.
One of the big favorites for the ring must therefore upset his plans at the end of the first round. Seeing Porzingis again before potential conference finals is not impossible but rather “optimistic”. Grimace soup atmosphere in Massachusetts.
2024-04-30 23:13:00
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