Heavy's Steve Bulpett reports that the Cleveland Cavaliers are expecting Kristaps Porzingis to return to the Boston Celtics from a calf injury during the two teams' Eastern Conference Semifinals series.
"Nothing hard and fast to report here (stop and read that part again), but the Cavaliers are expecting to see Kristaps Porzingis before this series is over," Bulpett prefaced before saying, "I'm getting the same vibe from the Celtics."
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla inspired hope on May 6 ahead of Game 1 when he commented on Porzingis's improved movement.
“He seemed to be walking a little bit better,” Mazzulla said (h/t NESN). “The thing about KP, he puts the time in. So, a guy like him, every single days he knows exactly what he has to do and he always puts the work in to be ready whether he’s playing or whether he’s coming back from an injury.
“I just saw him walking a little bit better, but I trust his work ethic and I know he’s doing everything he can to get back as fast as he can.”
Kristaps Porzingis returning to Boston Celtics would be major moral victory
Not long ago, Celtics fans were worried about whether or not Porzingis would make it back to the team during their run to the Finals at all; let alone whether or not he'd make it back in time to play in the second round.
That it appears he'll be back in time to battle a Cavs frontcourt featuring Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, who is going to miss some time himself, is a major moral victory for Boston's fanbase.
Porzingis is likely a necessary presence for any championship ambitions, especially if the Minnesota Timberwolves' frontline or, seemingly less likely, Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, are the Western Conference's representative come June.
It sounds like he'll be there for it if the Cs are.