The Celtics advanced to the second round of the NBA Playoffs as expected, but they may have to play that series without key pieces.
Kristaps Porzingis, who is suffering from a calf strain, will miss Game 5, where the Celtics ended the series 118-84, and will also miss the team’s second round of the series, according to TNT’s Chris Haynes. There is a possibility that he will be absent.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Porzingis is “expected to miss at least a few games.”
Porzingis, 28, was injured in Game 4 and played just 14 minutes in Boston’s 102-88 win over the Heat before suffering a non-contact injury in the second quarter.
Speaking to reporters before the series-clinching Game 5 win, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzula gave no update on Porzingis’ return schedule.
“We’ll keep an eye on him for a week to see how he’s doing and see how he responds to treatment next week,” Mazzula said. According to the Boston Globe.
The coach said the team will have to rely more on speed without Porzingis.
“We just have to use our speed to our advantage on both ends of the floor,” Mazzula added. “That’s the most important thing. But it starts with our defense. We’ve got to stop. That way we don’t have to play in the half court, and in the half court we use our speed to make two-on-one plays. We need to create 1s and pocket chances.”
In his first year in Boston, Porzingis lived up to his hype on the court, averaging 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in 57 games.
In the first round against Miami, he averaged 12.3 points and 5 rebounds in the four games he played.
Boston will face either the Cavaliers or Magic in the second round.
