BOSTON — Not only is Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porziņģis available to play Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night, but his coach said to “expect to see him” on the floor.
Porziņģis hasn’t played since suffering a connective tissue tear and ligament displacement near his left ankle in Game 2. He was activated for Game 4 for “very specific” situations but did not play. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said Monday that Porziņģis is farther along in his recovery than he was before Game 4.
Porziņģis, who is averaging 12.5 points and 5.0 rebounds off the bench in the finals, missed 10 games earlier in the playoffs due to a right calf injury. Boston is 10-2 without him, but it sounds like the Celtics will have him for at least limited action with a chance to win their NBA-record 18th title.
Boston leads this series, 3-1, and Game 5 is at 8:30 p.m. ET.
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(Photo: Eric Canha / USA Today)
