BROOKLYN — The Boston Celtics have been without their starting center for the past eight games, coincidentally, the length of their recent homestand (plus one game in South Beach vs. the Miami Heat). Kristaps Porzingis has been sidelined with an illness, though there has been very little information provided regarding what exactly he was dealing with. But at halftime of the Celtics’ game against the Utah Jazz, Porzingis took to Twitter himself to give an update.
“I have been dealing with some viral illness that we haven't been able to fully identify yet,” Porzingis wrote on Twitter. “I am recovering and getting better. But still working my way back to full [strength] to help this team. Thanks for support and Im hoping for a healthy return soon. 🙏💚”
However, the Celtics just released a huge update.
Kristaps Porzingis upgraded to probable for Celtics vs. Nets
Boston put out their injury report ahead of their game against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night, and Porzingis was listed as probable. However, he has since been upgraded to available. He'll make his return to action after an eight-game absence. The injury report is as follows:
- J. Brown - R Knee Posterior Impingement - AVAILABLE
- A. Horford - L Big Toe Sprain - OUT
- K. Porzingis - Illness (Non-Covid) - AVAILABLE
- J. Tatum - R Knee Tendinopathy - AVAILABLE
- D. White - L Knee Contusion - OUT
Up to this point, Porzingis has been either doubtful or questionable to play for the past two weeks, and every game, he’s been downgraded to out ahead of tip-off.
Porzingis even commented on Instagram that he would return to action in the Celtics’ recent game against the Los Angeles Lakers, but that didn’t end up coming to fruition.
Before he was forced to miss time with an illness, Porzingis was finally making some headway regarding his chemistry with the rest of the starting lineup. There were some bumps in the road when he returned from offseason surgery at the end of November, but he had been playing well.
Porzingis’ off-ball defense and post-ups were starting to shine within the flow of the Celtics’ game plan, but the injury (or in this case, illness) bug hit him again.
The Celtics have been dealing with a ton of ailments this season. Jrue Holiday is still dealing with mallet finger in his right hand, though he’s playing through it and is no longer on the injury report.
Jaylen Brown’s knee has been a problem at times, too. Add in that Al Horford and Porzingis haven’t been playing in back-to-backs, and the numbers start to add up.