The Boston Celtics could soon be back at full strength.Star center and offseason acquisition Kristaps Porzingis told fans on Instagram that he will play for the team’s next game, Friday at home against the New York Knicks.Porzingis has missed the last four games with a calf injury.The 28-year-old last played on November 24 against the Orlando Magic when he played just 22 minutes, a season-high.
Porzingis took the field and started 15 of the team’s first 16 gamesFour-time All-Star forward Jayson Tatum has played in all 20 games so far for the Eastern Conference-leading Celtics, while fellow All-Star Jaylen Brown has appeared in 19 games. All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday (another offseason addition) missed only two games and shooting guard Derrick White played and started in 17 of the first 20 games.An All-Star in his third NBA season with the Knicks in 2017-18, Porzingis has never been part of a team with so much talent, so much depth and such high championship expectations. Given the loaded team around him, Porzingis’ numbers this season may not be as high as in previous years, but his health is paramount to Boston’s title hopes.
The former fourth overall pick is averaging 18.9 points (his lowest since the 2016-17 season) and 6.7 rebounds per game this season (his lowest since the 2017-18 season). Porzingis also shoots 54.7% from the field, a career high.
Leave a Reply