The illness that’s sidelined Kristaps Porzingis since Feb. 26 has yet to be fully diagnosed, according to the Celtics center.
During Monday night’s game against the Utah Jazz, Porzingis shared a medical update on social media.
“I have been dealing with some viral illness that we haven’t been able to fully identify yet,” he wrote. “I am recovering and getting better. But still working my way back to full (strength) to help this team. Thanks for support and I’m hoping for a healthy return soon.”
Porzingis sat out his sixth consecutive game Monday. He’s missed seven of Boston’s last eight contests and also was scratched from a Feb. 8 game in New York due to illness.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has said little about Porzingis’ absence, revealing only that he’s been a regular visitor to the Celtics’ facility and that the team hoped to have him back “soon.” Porzingis participated in pregame warmups before last Thursday’s home win over Philadelphia, then watched part of the game from Boston’s bench after being ruled out.
Mazzulla said before Monday’s game that Porzingis was “getting close” to returning.
“Obviously, we want to have him and can’t wait to have him back,” the coach said. “But at the same time, we can go to different things we may need depending on kind of the unknown, not just in the regular season, but in the playoffs.”
Porzingis, who also missed the start of the season after undergoing offseason leg surgery, has appeared in 32 of Boston’s 65 games, averaging 18.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting a career-best 40.3% from 3-point range.