The Latest on the Health Front for the Celtics for Game 5 vs. Cavs

On Monday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Cavaliers fought valiantly in Donovan Mitchell's absence, putting the Celtics on their heels before simple adjustments sparked a stifling performance on defense in the second half of Boston's 109-102 win in Game 4.

As the C's return home with a chance to punch their ticket to a third consecutive trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, they remain without Kristaps Porzingis as he rehabs a soleus strain in his right calf.

However, his progress is encouraging, based on what one can glean from watching his on-court workouts after practices and shoot-arounds.

Kristaps Porzingis working on post-ups against D.J. MacLeay on the heels of Celtics shoot around. Progressing but inactive for Game 4 against the Cavs tonight. pic.twitter.com/Iw1i6zwMGA
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) May 13, 2024

Fortunately for Boston, the seven-foot-three center is the only player on the hosts' injury report ahead of Game 5 at TD Garden.

That's an encouraging sign for Luke Kornet, who got upgraded from probable because of right calf tightness to playing in Game 4 on Monday. He registered nine points, including flushing home an alley-oop from Jayson Tatum, and six rebounds, grabbing three at both ends. One of those came courtesy of him elevating for a put-back slam.