Kristaps Porzingis offered an update on his health during Monday’s Celtics-Jazz game, revealing in a social media post that he’s “dealing with some viral illness that we haven’t been able to fully identify yet.”
That illness kept Porzingis [out of Boston’s last six games](https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/03/10/kristaps-porzingis-shares-concerning-health-update-after-missing-sixth-straight-game/) and seven of its last eight. But head coach Joe Mazzulla and multiple teammates said they’ve seen improvement from the veteran big man and hope to have him back soon.
“I mean, I think he said it best. I think at the end of the day, just making sure he’s safe,” Mazzulla said after the Celtics [defeated Utah 114-108](https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/03/10/sam-hausers-record-setting-quarter-powers-celtics-to-win-over-jazz/) at TD Garden without Porzingis, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford. “He’s still able to come in and be around the guys as best he can. Trying to stay in the best shape possible. He’s been on the court. He’s doing what he can to get back. But he kind of said it best. At the same time, we’ve just got to kind of make sure he’s good, and we do what’s best for him.”
Sam Hauser, who scored a career-high 33 points and hit nine 3-pointers in Monday’s win, said he hoped Porzingis would be available Wednesday night when the Celtics host the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.
“He’s been around,” Hauser said. “He’s doing better. Hopefully, we can see him Wednesday. If not, hopefully, next game after that. Just hoping he’s doing all right. I think he is. He looks like he’s coming around, so that’s exciting for us.”
Derrick White said the Celtics are eager to have Porzingis back when he’s ready.
“I know it’s difficult for him not to be out there playing with us, and he’s doing everything he can to get back,” White said. “He knows we’ve always got his back, and we know he’s doing everything he needs to do to get back and try to figure out what’s going on. When he comes back, it’ll be great to have him.”
After sitting out the first month of the season as he recovered from leg surgery, then missing another four games after Christmas with an ankle sprain, Porzingis was one of Boston’s most consistent performers throughout January and February, scoring at least 15 points in 19 consecutive games while averaging 7.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks during that stretch.
Only Tatum and Jaylen Brown are averaging more points per 36 minutes this season than Porzingis, and his 40.3% shooting percentage from 3-point range would be the best of his career.
“I am recovering and getting better,” Porzingis wrote in his social media post. “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.”
Originally Published: March 11, 2025 at 11:09 AM EDT