Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis hasn’t suited up for the reigning champs since Feb. 26, and the 30-year-old made an awaited announcement Monday.
The Celtics hosted the Utah Jazz at TD Garden, battling to preserve their now five-game winning streak, while Porzingis took to social media to offer an update. Boston’s 7-footer publicized the previously unknown reason behind Porzingis’ six-game absence from the team, attributing the ongoing sidelining to a “viral illness.”
“I have been dealing with some viral illness that we haven’t been able to fully identify yet,” Porzingis announced on X. “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 entered the team’s title defense campaign recovering from offseason surgery to repair a rare tendon injury in his ankle. He missed Boston’s first 17 games of the season but has since remained a looming concern since the Celtics haven’t matched the dominance they demonstrated as the NBA’s most winningest team last season.
Boston managed to fend off the shorthanded Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers without Porzingis throughout last season’s playoffs. However, with new-look teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences, the Celtics can’t expect to replicate that level of success as opposed to undergoing a rigorous test. They’ll need Porzingis, maybe not for their first-round matchup, but definitely once the semifinals and conference final rounds arrive so having the nine-year veteran healthy is vital.
Story continues below advertisement
Initially, the Celtics chalked up Porzingis’ absence to a non-COVID illness, all while head coach Joe Mazzulla has leaned on Luke Kornet, Neemias Queta and Al Horford to hold the fort down in the frontcourt.
Porzingis is averaging 18.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks while shooting 47.4% from the field across 32 appearances this season. Those numbers are a slight drop from last season’s, but it’s been enough to keep the Celtics in the championship contender’s circle — along with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
So far, the Celtics have fared well with or without Porzingis, going 26-6 this season without their starting center. Still, that doesn’t mean the team isn’t eager to welcome Porzingis back to the floor and return to business as usual.
“He’s been around. He’s doing better,” Sam Hauser told reporters after Boston’s 114-108 win over the Jazz, per NBC Sports Boston’s postgame coverage. “Hopefully, we can see him Wednesday. If not, hopefully, the game after that. Just hoping he’s doing alright. I think he is. It seems like he’s coming around, so that’s exciting for us.”
Story continues below advertisement
Boston won its last five, including 15 of its last 18 games. They’ll next host the West-leading Thunder on Wednesday night in a potential NBA Finals matchup, all while the team awaits the next update on a critical piece of their championship puzzle.