Kristaps Porzingis, the Boston Celtics’ star forward, is poised to make a much-anticipated return to the court for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks this Thursday night. This news comes directly from The Athletic’s Shams Charania, signaling a potential game-changer for the Celtics as they vie for their first NBA championship in fifteen years.
Porzingis has been sidelined since April 29 due to a non-contact calf injury sustained during the first round of the playoffs against the Miami Heat. In his absence, the Celtics successfully navigated past the Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Indiana Pacers, clinching the Eastern Conference title with a clean sweep in the finals against the Pacers.
The 7-foot-2 Latvian forward has been integral to the Celtics, averaging 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds this season. His return could provide a significant boost to the team’s dynamics, especially as they prepare to face the formidable Mavericks.
In preparation for his return, Porzingis has participated in multiple scrimmages over the past few days, showing promising signs of recovery. According to Jay King from The Athletic, Porzingis expressed cautious optimism about his condition, stating, “Good question. I don’t know. We’ll see,” when asked about returning to his peak form.
His journey back to the lineup has not been without setbacks. Initially hoping to return for the Eastern Conference finals, Porzingis was eventually ruled out for Game 4 on May 27. Details regarding the delay have been sparse, but it involved “accelerating his on-court ramp-up,” indicating that both Porzingis and the team’s medical staff were taking no chances with his recovery.
The Celtics have performed admirably without Porzingis, but his presence on the floor adds a layer of strategic depth that could prove crucial against the Mavericks. As the teams prepare for the tip-off of the NBA Finals, all eyes will be on Porzingis to see if he can rise to the occasion and help lead Boston to a long-awaited championship victory.
Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis (calf) has completed multiple scrimmages in recent days and is expected to return to action for Game 1 of the NBA Finals vs. Dallas on Thursday night barring setback, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Porzingis has been sidelined since April 29. pic.twitter.com/3kdyvJQyqt
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 4, 2024
Kristaps Porzingis on whether he’s 100 percent: “Good question. I don’t know. We’ll see.”
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) June 4, 2024
He said he’s planning to play in Game 1. He said every day gives him a bit more time to get even better and he’s working toward that.