Report: Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis Likely to Miss Start of Eastern Conference Finals

Boston will likely be without its starting center to begin the upcoming Eastern Conference finals.

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis runs up the floor during a game in April. / Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Celtics will likely be without center Kristaps Porzingis to start the upcoming Eastern Conference finals.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday, citing sources, that the Celtics are expecting Porzingis to miss Game 1 and Game 2 of the series—games scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday in Boston. The Celtics, however, are optimistic that Porzingis will be able to return at some point during the series.

Porzingis has been out since he suffered a soleus strain in his right calf during Game 5 of the Celtics' first-round series against the Miami Heat. He missed Boston's entire playoff bout against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, a series the Celtics claimed in five games.

Veteran Al Horford has started for the Celtics in Porzingis's absence. In those six playoff games, Horford is averaging 9.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in 30.1 minutes per game. The 37-year-old scored 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting during Boston's series-clinching 113–98 win over the Cavaliers on Wednesday.

The Celtics will face either the New York Knicks or Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals. The Knicks hold a 3–2 series lead over Indiana heading into Friday night's Game 6 matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.