The Celtics won’t have Kristaps Porzingis for their in-season tournament quarterfinal matchup against the Pacers on Monday. The big man has been ruled out due to a left calf strain, ESPN relays. Porzingis, who has 18.9 points and 6.7 rebounds in his first year with Boston, has already missed the last three games.
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Knicks are 12-7 but their December schedule will be a major test, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post notes. They have to play Milwaukee three times and nine of their remaining 12 December games are on the road. Phoenix and both Los Angeles teams will be part of a West Coast trip and the last three road games including up-and-coming clubs Oklahoma City, Orlando and Indiana.
- Forward Robert Covington is heating up in his second stint with the Sixers, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. Covington, who was part of the James Harden blockbuster trade with the Clippers, averaged 15 points and six rebounds in the last two games. “The more and more games I get under my belt, the more and more I’m going to get comfortable within the offense and defense,” said Covington, who will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
- In a report on the Raptors’ first 20 games, The Athletic’s Eric Koreen opines that the team has looked nothing more than mediocre. Koreen suggests that their transition offense is their only real strength and they don’t have the depth, nor the draft picks, to get significantly better. If they don’t show real improvement over the next 20 games, the Raptors will have to be sellers at the trade deadline, Koreen adds.
I can’t believe Kristaps is injured
Lol . Yea this is why I’ve never been behind the Celtics hype. They’re extremely dangerous with a healthy porzingis but no reason to believe he can make it thru a playoff run.
Yeah, I mean if only they still had Rob Williams instead.
Yea didn’t believe in them w Williams either lmao
No reason to believe he can’t, nowadays everyone but Mikal Bridges misses games here and there.
He misses constantly his whole career ever since the first big injury a few years in. He is a often injured big man that misses very consistently in the playoffs, so umm yeah there’s reason to believe- nearly a decade of injury history on a body type known for injury for a man who is nearly 30
He’s averaged 1691 MP the last four seasons. Jamal Murray missed the same amount of time when he tore his ACL. Anyone trolling on KP is likely a frustrated Knicks fan.
Ain’t nobody frustrated in NyC the Knicks are on the come up
At least Porzingis can still play this season. Robert Williams is out another season with a surgery. -_-
Let’s not panic. We have Big Al to start, & now #88, Neemias Queta, who really needs to get into the rotation because we surely need an offensive rebounder since KP plays outside. Look, for example, at how Mitchell Robinson helps the Knicks with his offensive rebounding. And we have a lot of strong & experienced bench guys this year who need to play. Early on is the time to see what we have. Go Celtics!