Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis exits Game 4 with injury
The Celtics entered halftime of Game 4 against the Miami Heat with a 17-point lead. Despite the big lead, the team is worried over the injury to star center Kristaps Porzingis.
The big man left the court at the Kaseya Center in the closing minutes of the second quarter. Porzingis was visibly upset as he walked gingerly out of the court.
After Porzingis left the game, the team announced that he was doubtful to return due to “right calf tightness.”.
Porzingis’ non-contact injury came as he was trying to dish the ball to Jaylen Brown. He immediately came up hobbling on the play, signaling to the bench that he needed to come out of the game.
The injury concern over the non-contact injury is valid, but it should be noted that he rolled his ankle in prior possessions in the quarter.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on X that Porzingis “will undergo imaging on Tuesday, but early indications are that he hasn’t sustained an Achilles injury.”
If this is just calf tightness that is the 7-foot-2 center’s issue, the Celtics can rest him and focus on getting Porzingis ready for the next round of the playoffs. Porzingis dealt with calf and hamstring issues during the regular season, playing in 57 of a possible 82 games.
Porzingis has averaged 14 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.0 blocks through the first three games of the series. If the C's lose him for any extended period of time, it's not an ideal outcome for a Boston team that is expected to win the Eastern Conference and go to the NBA Finals.
