4:30pm: Porzingis is expected to miss multiple games, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.
4:03pm: Porzingis has been ruled out for Game 5 due to what the Celtics are calling a right soleus strain (Twitter link via Brian Robb of MassLive.com).
The soleus is the same calf muscle that has sidelined Giannis Antetokounmpo since the final week of the regular season, though it’s unclear whether Porzingis’ strain is as severe as Antetokounmpo’s.
7:40am: The Celtics took full control of their first-round series vs. Miami on Monday by picking up their second consecutive road victory and extending their series lead to 3-1. However, as Chris Herring of ESPN writes, the Game 4 win might have come at a cost, as big man Kristaps Porzingis exited in the second quarter due to a right calf injury and didn’t return.
The Celtics’ starting center is expected to undergo an MRI on Tuesday to assess the severity of the ailment, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who hears from sources that early indications are that Porzingis didn’t suffer an Achilles injury.
Porzingis initially appeared to start limping with about 3:15 left in the second quarter when he stepped on Tyler Herro‘s ankle (video link). However, he turned his left ankle on that play, and the injury was said to affect his right calf, so it may have been unrelated. Less than a minute later, as he caught a pass from Jaylen Brown, Porzingis began limping again and gestured toward the bench that he needed to be subbed out of the game (Twitter video link).
Porzingis has been relatively healthy for the past two seasons, appearing in 57 regular season games in 2023/24 and 65 a year ago. But he has missed significant time due to health problems in the past, having made just 151 total appearances in the four seasons prior to 2022/23. As such, any injury is a concern, though there have been some signals that this isn’t a significant one.
Abby Chin of NBC Sports Boston reported at the start of the second half that Celtics assistant Charles Lee was “cautiously optimistic” that Porzingis would be OK (story via Brian Robb of MassLive). And Porzingis himself tweeted after the win that he “will be good.”
If Porzingis is unable to play in Game 5 on Wednesday, it would mean an increased role for Al Horford, with reserve bigs Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman, and Neemias Queta moving up on the depth chart. As Jared Weiss of The Athletic notes, Boston gave up a pair of second-round picks at February’s trade deadline for Tillman precisely so the team didn’t find itself shorthanded in the frontcourt in a situation like this.
“Luke, Xavier, Neemie, have to kind of be ready to step up and answer the call,” Horford said after the game, per Weiss. “They’ve been doing a good job of that all year. Obviously, it’s the playoffs now, it’s different, but I have confidence in those guys if they need to come in and bring energy and impact the game.”
The Celtics had another injury scare in the fourth quarter of Game 4, as Jayson Tatum turned an ankle when he came down on Bam Adebayo‘s foot while attempting a jump shot after a whistle (Twitter video link). However, Tatum was able to walk it off and finish the game — he’ll presumably be good to go for Game 5.
So many calf issues in the NBA. It’s all about arch support in the shoe. Not a full length insert but three quarters providing arch.
I learned that 20 years ago from a buddy. My calf would cramp and I have to sit out several weeks. Then try to run again and it would cramp up again.
Throw in the arch supports and have been issue free ever since. Just FYI if you Ballers have the same thing. Every little tip helps I hope.
pretty sure the Celtics trainers and medical staff know about inserts.
I’m pretty sure they do as well. But maybe some dudes on here don’t? Im just trying to be helpful, no harm intended bro. If it helps one guy then it’s all good.
calf cramps are different from a calf strain you implied that the rash of calf injuries had something to do with arch support but good on you for helping people out.
Thanks for the insight. I hoop a lot and I’ve been dealing with persistent calf/achilles issues over the last couple months. Do you have any specific suggestions for getting insoles like a brand? Also, does it help to wear insoles all the time or just while hooping?
20 years ago I got three quarter length inexpensive arch supports Dr Scholl’s from walmart.
They’re a little bit different now but the same idea. And there’s been times over the years when I forget to bring them and try to play ball without them in my shoes and my calf cramps up.
Then I use them the next time and it’s all good. I’ve told a couple people who had to stop playing because of the calf cramping and they were able to continue playing ball. I’m no expert but if I find something that works I’ll pass it on. Hope it helps.
Oh and I only wear the insoles when I hoop. My calf doesn’t bother me walking.., only running while hooping.
Gotcha, sounds good I’ll look into getting some insoles. Appreciate it, hooping is therapeutic for me and it’s been really discouraging to keep getting hurt so this is a game changer
It’s probably already clear but not just insoles but the three quarter length allows for arch support and the ball of the foot to be closer to the ground because there’s no padding there. I hope you know what I mean.
No padding on the ball of the foot and toes means the arch is supported even more. Again I’m no expert but without these things I’d be sitting at home three nights a week and twice on Sunday LOL
Gotcha haha, thanks for the clarification
I am still worried. Ever since VeryBarry explained how the Heat will beat Boston because of the very frightening Tyler Herro it’s been hard to sleep.
He also said Philly was going to win. He really knows his hoops.
is that Kurtis Blows new name?
No, Barry’s highfalutin self has been lurking in the comments section on this sight for many years. I wonder whatever happened to Mr.Blow?
Kurtis was just a troll.
Barry is a basketball genius. He tells everyone what’s going to happen.
Who?
Jaime is also out for the Heat, but it doesn’t matter b/c they’ll probably use lineups that make no sense anyway
Newsflash, Embiid missed shoot around with a migraine. This guy and people still go into bat for him. Take some tablets, pour some cement into a gatoraid, harden up and go lead your team to another first round exit.
Kristaps was doubtful now is on the shelf. From the first minutes of the game everybody saw (except the Boston staff) that Porzi was walking on eggs…
it’s pretty clear when the injury happened so what you’re saying makes no sense.
Porzi was probable before the game and if you watch the first minutes he’s clearly in pain … Denver rested Murray for one game in case of something stupid happened, good choice.
I Watched the first minutes to the end of the game. He was fine before the injury.
Walking on eggs? Lol
This is what true depth grants you …. you can rest, load manage during the season, get everyone fresh for the playoffs.
If this were any other team/situation, KP would already be done for the season.