Celtics Offer Kristaps Porzingis Update Before Game 2 Vs. Knicks

Kristaps Porzingis made an early exit with a non-COVID-19 illness on Monday night, just before the Boston Celtics collapsed to the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Porzingis participated in halftime warm-ups but didn’t return to the floor for the remainder of Boston’s 108-105 loss in overtime at TD Garden. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t have an elaborate update during his postgame press conference, and the concern quickly amplified midgame when forward Sam Hauser suffered a right ankle injury in the second quarter — he also didn’t return. But during the team’s off-day Tuesday, the Celtics had an encouraging injury report before Game 2.

Boston upgraded Porzingis to probable while Hauser remains doubtful with an ankle sprain. The Celtics, however, do believe that the “viral illness” that sidelined him in February and March could be linked to what Porzingis is currently dealing with now in the playoffs.

“Since he came back, I think he’s kind of been dealing with it on and off, fighting through it, working through it, doing the best that he can and I think it was just too much for him in that game,” Mazzulla told reporters Tuesday, per Khari Thompson of Boston.com. “I didn’t know that was going to happen until I found out about it in that game. He had been working through it since he’s gotten back and he’s done a great job of being available. It was just tough for him to continue yesterday, so we’ll see how he handles that.”

Porzingis wasn’t looking like himself from the jump. He was noticeably sluggish and went scoreless after shooting 0-for-4 from the field across 13 minutes. It was an untimely blow to the Celtics, but Porzingis’ departure wasn’t the sole reason behind their second-half collapse. Boston held a 20-point advantage over New York in the third quarter and completely abandoned the offensive game plan that built that lead in the first place. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the crew refused to stop chucking carnival 3-pointers, which came with the price of handing the Knicks a quick and easy 1-0 series lead.

Regardless of whether Porzingis will be ready to go or not, the Celtics will need to unleash a response performance if they intend to keep the Knicks from taking a 2-0 cushion before the series heads to Madison Square Garden for Games 3 and 4.