Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics eye their fourth-straight win on Saturday night when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers and their new duo of LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
Kristaps Porzingis, whom the Celtics acquired via trade in the 2023 offseason, has missed the last four games due to a non-COVID illness but had been ruled questionable coming into the day.
On Friday, just one day before the game, a fan commented on a recent Celtics Instagram post, asking if Porzingis will be making his return. The Latvian responded, "Yes," saying he would be playing.
However, just over an hour before tipoff, the Celtics announced their final injury report for the game, and Porzingis has been downgraded to out.
Injury Report update:
Sam Hauser - AVAILABLE
Jrue Holiday - AVAILABLE
Kristaps Porzingis (illness, non-Covid) - OUT https://t.co/L2Mw9f0K1R
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 9, 2025
Celtics guard Jrue Holiday, who has also missed the last four games with a right hand mallet finger, will be able to play. Sharpshooter Sam Hauser will also be available for Boston after missing Thursday's win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes will also be out on Saturday night as he recovers from a right knee contusion. Rui Hachimura will remain out for a fifth-straight game with left patellar tendinopathy.
Porzingis missed a lot of time at the beginning of the season as he recovered from offseason foot surgery. He didn't make his return until Nov. 25. In just 32 games played, Porzingis is averaging 18.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists.
Following the Lakers game, the Celtics will be back in action on Monday, facing the Utah Jazz. On Wednesday, the Western Conference's best comes to town as Boston battles Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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This story was originally published March 8, 2025 at 6:31 PM.