Report: Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis will make season debut Monday night
Porzingis will return to action against the Clippers at TD Garden.
Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis plans to return to action on Monday night against the Clippers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Porzingis, who was sidelined after having foot surgery this summer, has missed every game the Celtics have played so far this season.
Last week, the Celtics announced that Porzingis had reached the “next phase” in his rehab process, which included a practice with the Maine Celtics as he continued to ramp up towards his eventual return.
Porzingis was healthy during the bulk of the regular-season last year, averaging 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds over 57 games.
But, he missed most of the postseason with a calf strain that he suffered during Game 4 of the Celtics’ opening-round series against Miami.
The Celtics advanced past Miami, Cleveland, and Indiana without Porzingis before getting him back for the NBA Finals.
Porzingis had a strong showing in Game 1 against Dallas and played 23 minutes in Game 2 before suffering a torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg that sidelined him until Game 5.
Porzingis suited up for Game 5, but was clearly not 100 percent ready, limping around in his limited action. He underwent surgery over the summer. The Celtics were expecting him to return around this time, perhaps by December, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said.
But, the progress Porzingis has showed in his rehab process has allowed him to return a little bit earlier.
The 7-foot-2 center adds depth to the Celtics front court, unique rim protection skills with his height, wingspan, and athleticism, and he can stretch the floor as a career 36 percent shooter from 3-point range.
“You saw it last year. We’re a really good team right now,” Jayson Tatum told reporters. “When we add KP we’re just that much better on both ends of the floor. Our chemistry is there. It’s like having a cheat code. A 7-foot guy we can get the ball to, create mismatches, and watch him go to work.”
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