Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis leaves Game 4 vs. Heat with calf injury, doubtful to return
An ESPN report indicated that Porzingis likely hasn’t sustained an Achilles injury.
The Celtics entered halftime of Game 4 against the Miami Heat with a 17-point lead. But Boston’s short-term results were marred by the injury concerns surrounding star big man Kristaps Porzingis.
Porzingis left the court at Kaseya Center in the closing minutes of the second quarter, showing visible frustration as he gingerly made his way to the locker room. Minutes after the second quarter ended, the Celtics announced that Porzingis was doubtful to return in Game 4 due to “right calf tightness”.
The optics surrounding Porzinigs’ injury likely struck fear into every Celtics fan hoping for a long playoff run. The 28-year-old center appeared to suffer a non-contact injury while trying to pass the ball to Jaylen Brown. Porzingis immediately came up hobbling on the play, signaling to the bench to get taken out the game with 2:27 left in the quarter.
Any non-contact injury stands as an immediate concern for a key cog like Porzingis, although the former All-Star did appear to roll his ankle on a few plays prior to his likely game-ending injury.
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.”
The Celtics will likely welcome a scenario where it’s only calf tightness that is plaguing their 7-foot-2 big man, even if it results in Porzingis sitting out some of this playoff run. Porzingis dealt with calf and hamstring issues during the regular season, playing in 57 of a possible 82 games.
Porzingis’ size, spacing, and scoring touch both in the post and beyond the arc have been a difference maker for the top-seeded Celtics this season.
“Probably the most important guy on our team for what we’re trying to accomplish,” Jayson Tatum told reporters of Porzingis after Boston’s Game 3 win in Miami. “No doubt in my mind that he was gonna have a better game and bounce back, just the way he started out the game on both ends of the floor being active. When he’s protecting the rim, contesting shots, we’re a whole different team.”
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