Celtics provide updated Kristaps Porzingis rehab timeline

Boston Celtics star Kristaps Porzingis Michael Laughlin-USA TODAY Sports

Celtics provide updated timeline on Kristaps Porzingis injury

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 5/1/24

Kristaps Porzingis will miss several weeks for the Boston Celtics. He suffered a right soleus strain in Game 4 of their first-round playoff matchup against the Miami Heat on Monday. According to Shams Charania, who spoke on Wednesday's episode of FanDuel TV's "Run it Back," Porzingis has an initial recovery timeline of 1-2 weeks.

"Kristaps Porzingis has a right soleus strain," Charania said. "It's a calf strain. It's kind of similar to what Giannis Antetokounmpo was diagnosed with. It's all about the severity of the strain, how bad the strain is. I'm told this is going to be treated like a week to week injury, could be 1-2 weeks for Kristaps Porziņģis, could be even longer than that based on his rehab."

"Kristaps Porziņģis has a right soleus strain, so this is a calf strain...I'm told this is going to be treated like a week to week injury, could be 1-2 weeks for Kristaps Porziņģis, could be even longer than that based on his rehab."@ShamsCharania on Kristaps Porziņģis' injury… pic.twitter.com/LgPcl1jYxU
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) May 1, 2024

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has since confirmed that Porzingis will be re-evaluated next week.

"I don't know the specifics of it. They used a lot of fancy words," Mazzulla explained during an appearance on "Zolak & Bertrand." "I do know that he'll be reevaluated next week. We'll see how he responds to the treatment and how much better he gets here in the first week. That's kind of the goal."

Joe Mazzulla talks with @ZoandBertrand about the injury to Kristaps Porzingis pic.twitter.com/e3vCfQjzyo
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 1, 2024

Without Porzingis in the rotation, Al Horford will step into the starting lineup. He was the starting center during Boston's run to the 2022 NBA Finals. The veteran has also helped the team reach multiple Eastern Conference Finals in recent years. Horford's presence should help the Celtics remain steady as they navigate Porzingis' absence.

In the Celtics' series-clinching win Wednesday night, Horford had eight points and six rebounds in 23 minutes.

Nevertheless, Boston needs its star big man back on the court sooner rather than later. It can't afford for Porzingis to get back up to game speed in the opening games of the NBA Finals or the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics are also likely to reintegrate him into the rotation slowly to avoid re-aggravating the injury.

A tentative timeline of 1-2 weeks isn't a hammer blow to the Celtics. They have enough talent and depth to sustain their playoff run in Porzingis' absence. If that timeline gets pushed back, though, their shot at a championship could begin to fade.

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