The Boston Celtics were able to take a commanding 3-1 over the Miami Heat in their first-round series in the 2024 NBA Playoffs. After a shocking upset loss in Game 2, the Celtics have gone to South Beach and handled business with relative ease.
After coming away victorious in Game 3 by the score of 104-84, they won Game 4 102-88. Boston led by as many as 28 points in the game, as they will be heading back home to try and put away the series in Game 5.
Unfortunately, the step they took toward eliminating the Heat came at a cost. Just before halftime, starting big man Kristaps Porzingis hobbled off the court with a calf injury and did not return to the game.
It was a non-contact injury, which will always make the team and their fans nervous. Porzingis had tape on his left calf already, so he could have been dealing with something heading into the game. He looked to have injured the calf earlier in the contest but attempted to play through it before exiting for good.
On a positive note, early indications are that Porzingis did not suffer an Achilles injury, per NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. But, he was seen in a walking boot after the game when exiting the locker room.
“Minutes after he sustained the injury, the Celtics issued an update, saying Porzingis was suffering from right calf tightness. Following the game, Porzingis posted on social media, making note of the team’s victory and adding, “Thanks for all the support, will be good” with a biceps emoji at the end of the message,” was an update shared via ESPN.
Without Porzingis in the lineup, the Celtics received a major boost from Derrick White in Game 4. He scored a game-high 38 points, including eight 3-pointers, picking up the scoring slack that was missing from Porzingis being sidelined.
This will be something to keep a close eye on. The Celtics will still be favored to continue advancing in the Eastern Conference, but an injury to Porzingis certainly makes the path tougher to travel.
For as long as he is sidelined, the team will likely turn to veteran Al Horford to take his spot in the lineup. Xavier Tillman Sr. and Luke Kornet would be the backups behind him, as the frontcourt depth will be tested without Porzingis in the mix.
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