Boston Celtics
Porzingis performed two seasons and gained a championship in Boston.
Kristaps Porzingis should wait to compete in opposition to his former crew.
Porzingis, who performed for the Celtics from 2023-25, shall be sidelined resulting from left Achilles tendinitis when Boston visits the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. The 7-foot-2 middle was initially questionable to play, however was downgraded to out on Friday.
The brand new-look Hawks, who not too long ago dealt level guard Trae Younger to the Washington Wizards, traded for Porzingis from the Celtics in what was a wage dump transfer for Boston final July.
Since becoming a member of Atlanta, Porzingis has struggled to remain wholesome. The 30-year-old has missed 26 video games out of the Hawks’ 43 as he offers together with his POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) analysis and his lingering calf harm; the latter originated in 2023 whereas he was on the Celtics and was exacerbated within the playoffs in April 2024.
Porzingis missed almost each sport in December, apart from two, as he handled an sickness he mentioned was unrelated to POTS. The ten-year NBA veteran has additionally missed a number of video games in January resulting from his Achilles harm.
Porzingis not too long ago spoke about his incapacity to remain wholesome, insisting that he’ll ultimately be wholesome sufficient to play commonly once more.
“I simply wasn’t feeling too good, truthfully. Simply not being wholesome wholesome, ?” he mentioned final month (via CBS Sports). “However I wouldn’t say it’s the identical stuff from final season, in order that’s good. I believe I form of put that behind me even this summer season enjoying for the nationwide crew, however anyway, simply catching no matter it’s irritating, ? I need to be wholesome. And I shall be wholesome.”
Porzingis struggled together with his justifiable share of accidents throughout his two-season Celtics tenure, which is clearly persevering with into his stint with the Hawks. Nonetheless, he stays a productive participant on the courtroom when he’s wholesome. Porzingis is averaging 17.1 factors per sport this season; he averaged 19.5 in his closing season in Boston. He’s additionally taking pictures 45.7 % from the sector and 36.0 % from past the arc, each of that are down only a tad from final season.
Porzingis could have two extra possibilities to play in opposition to the Celtics for the primary time as a Hawk this season. Atlanta will go to Boston two instances in 2026 (Jan. 28 and March 27), and the Celtics will journey to play the Hawks once more on March 30.
However first, on Saturday, Boston shall be with out ahead Josh Minott (left ankle sprain) and may very well be with out guard Payton Pritchard (left ankle soreness), who’s listed as uncertain.
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