Kristaps Porzingis will (most likely) play in a basketball game on Saturday!
The Celtics made that announcement just hours before tipoff against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center, making for quite the shock after his status was previously left pretty ambiguous.
Porzingis missed the previous eight games due to an unidentified viral illness.
“I have been dealing with some viral illness that we haven’t been able to fully identify yet,” Porzingis posted to social media on Monday. “I am recovering and getting better. But still working my way back to full strenght to help this team. Thanks for support and Im hoping for a healthy return soon.”
Boston is expected to also have Jaylen Brown (right knee posterior impingement) and Jayson Tatum (right knee tendinopathy) in the lineup, though Al Horford (left big toe sprain) was listed as out and Derrick White (left knee contusion) was listed as probable.
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Porzingis was missed throughout his extended absence, with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder taking advantage of their unexpected advantage inside the arc during wins in Boston. The Celtics have just a few weeks to reintroduce their big man into the lineup ahead of another potential run to the NBA Finals.