Big man Kristaps Porzingis of the Boston Celtics posted something on social media that appeared to be good news regarding his calf injury.
Kristaps Porzingis’ early optimism appears to have been prescient after all. The Boston Celtics center downplayed the severity of his calf injury, stating after the game that he didn’t think it was “too serious” and that he was waiting for an MRI. Porzingis was forced to leave Friday’s game against the Orlando Magic early.
According to Noa Dalzell of Celtics Blog, less than a day later, he posted a picture of the team’s training facility along with a message on social media that alluded to “good news” and an impending return to the court.
With 6:44 remaining in the third quarter of the Celtics’ defeat by the magic, Porzingis left the game and never came back. Not long after, Boston declared that he would miss the rest of the game due to tightness in his left calf.
For the Celtics, the news that Porzingis will “be back very soon” is excellent. The 7’3 center is the key to unlocking Boston’s renowned five-out offensive attack, even though they have been quite successful this season with him on the bench. He can spot up well beyond the arc and frequently runs ball screens with players like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and others. In addition to posting size mismatches and embracing physicality more than ever, Porzingis has shown a dedication to dirty work on the other end of the court, where he has been one of the league’s top rim-protectors.
With a 12-4 record, the Celtics remain atop the Eastern Conference. They will play the Atlanta Hawks again on Sunday. The Chicago Bulls will be their opponent on Tuesday at TD Garden. Al Horford will likely start in Kristaps Porzingis’ place if Boston decides to be more cautious given his calf injury, with Luke Kornet and possibly Oshae Brissett seeing more action.
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