Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porziņģis is expected to return to action for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, barring a setback, league sources said Tuesday. Porziņģis completed multiple scrimmages in recent days, those sources said.
Porziņģis has been sidelined since sustaining a calf strain in Game 4 of the Celtics’ first-round series against the Miami Heat on April 29.
He was injured late in the second quarter of Boston’s eventual 102-88 win in that game. On the play he was injured, Porziņģis appeared to tweak his calf upon catching a pass and starting to drive to his left. He hobbled off the court after the non-contact injury and didn’t return to action. He was later seen wearing a walking boot on his foot after the game.
Boston went 21-4 without Porziņģis during the regular season and still has plenty of talent when he’s injured.
The Celtics have dropped only two contests so far in the playoffs — both Game 2s, one against the Heat and the other against the Cleveland Cavaliers. They swept the Indiana Pacers, who were without star Tyrese Haliburton for part of the series, in four games to reach the NBA Finals.
Game 1 is Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET in Boston.
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(Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
