Kristaps Porzingis appears to be almost ready to return to the Boston Celtics.
Porzingis, who is battling a strained soleus muscle in his right calf, could return as early as Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. That would set the pace for Monday night's game against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Porzingis went down with a nasty non-contact injury last month in Game 4 of the Celtics' season-opening series against the Miami Heat. He tried to make a move on the wing, then pulled himself up and limped off the court very slowly. He hasn't played since.
Porzingis missed the entire series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which the Celtics shut out in five games, due to a calf strain. He was already expected to miss the first two games of the conference finals against the Pacers as well.
According to Wojnarowski, Porzingis has “accelerated his on-court development” in recent days in hopes of returning during this series, but the Celtics “remain conservative in his recovery.” That's what it means. If he is unable to return Monday night, the Celtics will be home for Game 5 of the series next Wednesday at TD Garden unless they achieve a series sweep or are swept.
Porzingis averaged 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds for the Celtics this season, shooting a career-high 51.6 percent from the field. Boston earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference and returned to the conference finals for the third straight season this spring.
The Celtics have survived the postseason so far without Porzingis, but his return could be a game changer for a franchise seeking its second NBA Finals appearance in the last three years.
