What’s wrong with Boston big man Kristaps Porzingis?
The Celtics pulled Porzingis midway through the second quarter of their opening game against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday night.
While he briefly appeared after halftime, he went back to the locker room, and the Celtics announced he was questionable to return to the game thanks to a non-COVID illness. He did not return, and the Knicks overcame a 20-point deficit to win 118-115 in overtime.
Porzingis was not on the injury report before Game 1. It is unclear if he will be available for Game 2 on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET, TNT).
“It impacts the game because of his ability on both ends of the floor. … Hopefully, he’s ready for Game 2,’ Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said after the Game 1 loss. Mazzulla did not provide any specifics about the illness.
He missed all four of his shot attempts and grabbed four rebounds in the 14 minutes he played. The 7-2, 240-pound center/forward is averaging 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds.
In the opening round vs. the Orlando Magic, Porzingis suffered a cut on his forehead that required stitches.
He missed 11 games in February and March with an upper respiratory illness. During Boston’s run to the title last season, Porzingis sat out six games with a calf strain. He returned for the NBA Finals, only to suffer a foot injury that required offseason surgery.
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