Celtics

Joe Mazzulla: Kristaps Porzingis in a ‘great place,’ but won’t share possible return date

Porzingis has been out since April 29 due to a soleus strain.

By Conor Roche

May 19, 2024

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Kristaps Porzingis’s status for the Eastern Conference finals remains in question, but Joe Mazzulla doesn’t seem to be too stressed by it.

The Celtics coach didn’t provide an update on when the star big could return to the lineup. However, Mazzulla is looking at the situation through an optimistic lens.

“A great place,” Mazzulla said when asked by reporters on Porzingis’s rehab on Sunday. “He’s working hard every single day to make as fast of a recovery as he can. He’s there for everything. You can’t underestimate how hard he works trying to come back in a timely fashion.”

In a follow-up, Mazzulla was asked if Porzingis was showing progress on the court to make a return. He replied, “I have no idea,” but he continued his hopeful approach when asked if Porzingis will make a return at some point in the East finals.

“I feel like I’m an optimistic person in general,” Mazzulla responded.

Porzingis, who’s been out since April 29 due to a soleus strain in his calf muscle, was seen working on a stationary bicycle during Celtics practice Sunday. He took part in individual on-court activities ahead during shootaround late in the series against the Cavaliers, practicing in offensive and defensive situations.

The Celtics have mostly been fine since Porzingis went down. After Porzingis went down in Game 4 against the Heat in their first-round series, the Celtics won that game and are 5-1 since then. They’ve won all but one game by double digits.

As Boston awaits the winner of Sunday’s Indiana Pacers-New York Knicks Game 7, it’ll likely be a heavy favorite to win the Eastern Conference finals without him. Still, the Celtics would likely want Porzingis to return at some point in the series. He’s likely to miss the first two games of the series, which begins Tuesday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski recently reported.

Porzingis averaged 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game during the regular season. He’s averaging 12.3 points and five rebounds per game in the playoffs.