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By Noah Camras
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Boston Celtics have a long break before the 2024 NBA Finals — and that's great news for their ailing big man.
All-Star center Kristaps Porzingis, who suffered an injury in Game 4 of the Celtics' first-round matchup against the Miami Heat, appears to be nearing a return to the court. Porzingis posted an injury update on social media on Wednesday in Latvian, which reads like this in English:
"Thank you to everyone who supports and sympathizes throughout the season.
I'll be back in line soon. See you in the finals ☘️ and then in the arena with your own 🇱🇻🙌"
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While Porzingis isn't providing an exact timeline, he makes it sounds like he'll be back for the Finals, then will suit up with Latvia in the upcoming Summer Olympics.
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The Celtics have fared very well without Porzingis, closing out the Heat in five games, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in five, and then sweeping the Indiana Pacers in four. They're an ever better team when Porzingis is healthy, and will need him to compete with either Western Conference team they face in the NBA Finals.
The Dallas Mavericks, who currently lead the Western Conference Finals 3-1, have the high-flying Daniel Gafford as their big man, with P.J. Washington Jr. and Derrick Jones Jr. lining up as the forwards. On the other side, the Minnesota Timberwolves have the best big man duo in the league with Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert.
Porzingis appeared in 55 games for the Celtics this season, averaging 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 51.6 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from deep, and 85.8 percent from the free throw line. The Celtics acquired Porzingis in the offseason in a three-team trade with the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards, and he became a perfect fit in Boston's lineup.
On Wednesday, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzula appeared on 98.5 The Sports Hub's Zolak and Bertrand, and was asked if Porzingis would be back for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
"I'm not sure. I don't know yet," Mazzulla said. "I do know he ramped it up on the court a little bit. Like I said, he's working really, really hard. There's been a couple shootarounds where he hasn't done anything with the team but has been in a 1-on-1 setting kind of ramping it up with the intensity level of it. He's been getting better and better."
Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for Thursday, June 6 in Boston. Game 2 will be on Sunday, June 9.
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