Kofi Inkoom
Boston Celtics forward Kristaps Porzingis will miss game 5 against the Miami Heat due to a right soleus strain sustained on Monday night, the team announced. The injury happened in the second quarter while the Celtics were leading 47-31.
Porzingis got a pass from Jaylen Brown but lost control of the ball and signaled to be substituted out due to discomfort. He was limping visibly. At halftime, the Celtics considered him doubtful because of tightness in his right calf.
Porzingis appeared to tweak something earlier when he limped during a transition after a Celtics miss. Despite briefly staying in the game, he left the court with a limp, and Al Horford replaced him in the starting lineup for the second half.
The Celtics were leading 53-36 at halftime and had a 2-1 lead in the playoff series. Losing Porzingis could be a significant setback for Boston.
He played a crucial role during the regular season, helping the team achieve the NBA’s best record at 64-18. He averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 51.6% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc.
Although he was supposed to undergo an MRI on Tuesday, the results are still pending. His next opportunity to play will be in game 6 against the Heat if the Celtics lose on Wednesday night—which is unlikely , or in the next round of the playoffs.
Conversely, Porzingis might face an extended period on the sidelines, as this injury resembles the one sidelining Bucks’ standout Giannis Antetokounmpo, leaving the Bucks short-handed in the playoffs against the Pacers.