BOSTON — Kristaps Porzingis overlooked the Celtics practice court on Sunday, working hard with the team training staff through cycling intervals as his teammates got up shots. The intensive workout was the most activity seen from Porzingis publicly since the Celtics starting center suffered a calf strain in the first round against the Heat.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com reported Friday that the big man is expected to miss the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals but there was optimism about a return later in the series. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla gave no hints about just how close Porzingis is to returning to the floor but noted the center was in a terrific spot mentally when he came to his recovery and rehab.
“Great place,” Mazzulla said of Porzingis’ mental mindset. “He’s working hard every single day to make as fast as a recovery as he can. So he’s there for everything and it can’t go underestimated how hard he works, trying to come back in a timely fashion.”
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Porzingis has missed six straight games overall since suffering the calf strain in Game 4 of the Heat series. He began some light on-court work last week but clearly still has a ways to go to ramp up towards the type of recovery he would need to play in the postseason.
Porzingis has remained a fixture on the bench for Boston throughout games, staying engaged and supportive as his teammates have kept hopes of a postseason return alive.
“We know KP, he works hard and he’s working hard to come back,” Jrue Holiday said after practice Sunday. “But also if you know him he keeps himself engaged, he keeps himself engaged with the team. He’s a great locker room guy, a great teammate, somebody who’s super, super funny. So it’s been pretty easy I think to keep him engaged.”
Holiday also praised Porzingis for the work he’s been putting in off the floor towards a prompt recovery. The Celtics start the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday in Boston and will play every other game for the remainder of the series.
“You know that he wants to play,” Holiday said. “You know that he wants to get out there and play with his teammates, but then seeing him out there and seeing him working has been good. And honestly just hope that he recovers fast so that we can get him back out there.”
When asked about whether there is optimism about the possibility of a return this series for Porzingis, Mazzulla sidestepped the question entirely in the latest sign of Boston keeping his status under wraps.
“I feel like I’m an optimistic person in general,” Mazzulla replied.
The Celtics will officially release their injury report for Game 1 on Monday before hosting the opener of the East Finals without Porzingis on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. from TD Garden
