For the first time in over a month, the Celtics should have their full starting five intact when they take the court for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Starting big man Kristaps Porzingis said he plans to play Thursday night as Boston tips off its series against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden.
“That is the plan right now,” Porzingis said after Tuesday’s practice at the Auerbach Center. “It’s a couple more days, and I think that could make a difference. Every day gives me a bit more time to get even better.”
Head coach Joe Mazzulla wouldn’t confirm that Porzingis is good to go for Game 1 but said he’s seen consistent progress in his rehab.
“He’s working on it,” Mazzulla said. “I thought he did a great job getting to this point. He’s going through the practices, and we still have to see how he responds to each day to what he’s doing from a physical standpoint. So I think he’s on pace and he’s doing everything can to get back.
“So we’ll see how he feels tomorrow and we’ll see how he feels the next day and we’ll see how he feels heading into the game.”
Porzingis has not seen the floor since suffering a soleus strain in his right calf during Game 4 of Boston’s opening-round series against the Heat on April 29. Veteran Al Horford started the last 10 games in his place, and the Celtics won nine of those, making quick work of Miami, Cleveland and Indiana to reach their second NBA Finals in the last three seasons.
It’s unclear whether Porzingis will have restrictions as he returns to the court. He said he is running pain-free, but when asked if he is back to 100 percent, he replied: “Good question. I don’t know. We’ll see.”
“I’m feeling better each day,” Porzingis said. “It’s been a long process, I’m not going to lie. It’s been tough to sit out, obviously. But I tried to stay as engaged as I can with the team and be around the team and do my work and be with the team. But it sucks. It really, really does suck. But we’re here now, and I’m feeling much better. I put in a lot of hours to get to this point, and look forward to getting some action on the court.”
Porzingis was one of Brad Stevens’ most impactful offseason additions, and he enjoyed a stellar first season in Boston. The 7-foot-2 floor-stretcher averaged 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while setting career highs for field-goal percentage (51.6%) and offensive rating (128). Porzingis also led the Celtics in blocks per game with 1.9, which would have ranked in the top 10 in the league if he hadn’t missed the qualifying cutoff by one game.
Though the Celtics have gone 30-5 without Porzingis this season — which he said “speaks volumes for the whole roster” — having him back will be a major boost against the Mavericks, who have yet to face a center this postseason with his rare blend of rim protection and 3-point shooting ability.
Mazzulla doesn’t believe Porzingis will have any trouble reintegrating after his extended absence.
“He’s been playing basketball for like 30 years,” the coach said. “He’s been playing intense situations his whole life, so I don’t think that will be much of an issue. … KP is a great player. I think just because you’ve been out for a month doesn’t mean you have to relearn how to play basketball. He’s been doing a lot of great things for us this season on both ends of the floor with physicality, with intensity. And I expect him to pick up right where he left off.
“But obviously, there will be a little bit of rust. I’m just not concerned because of the work that he’s put in and what he’s done in his career and what he’s done in this season for us.”
Boston should be getting an extra-motivated Porzingis, too, and not just because he’s playing in his first NBA Finals. The 28-year-old spent two and a half difficult seasons with Dallas earlier in his career — a tenure that was defined by persistent injury issues and a lack of on-court chemistry with Luka Doncic, the Mavericks’ centerpiece star then and now.
Porzingis, whom the Mavericks ultimately offloaded in a salary-dump trade halfway through his five-year max contract, didn’t want to revisit why his pairing with Doncic didn’t work. But he said he’s excited to return to his old stomping grounds.
“I think it’s going to be great,” Porzingis said. “I played there for two and a half years, and I’m happy for everybody in Dallas. A lot of great relationships I have there, and I think they deserve to have some success like they’ve had this season. It’s going to be fun going up against my old team, going back to Dallas, playing some games there. I’m looking forward to it.”
Defending Dallas
The Mavericks’ offense runs through Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who combined to average nearly 60 points per game during the Western Conference finals against Minnesota. But Mazzulla knows Boston can’t ignore the Mavericks’ supporting cast, which was revamped late in the season and features the likes of P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively and Derrick Jones Jr.
“I think as much as we talk about Irving and Doncic, their role guys are big-time players,” Mazzulla said. “They make plays in transition, they make plays on offensive rebounds, they make timely threes and they defend at a high, high level to give their guys a chance to win. So the whole point of the game plan is risk management — what you want to live with, what you want to take away. Be ready to change depending upon how your environment is.”
Kyrie’s regret
Speaking with reporters in Dallas on Monday, Irving said he wished he handled his emotions better during his last playoff series against Boston, a first-round Celtics sweep in 2022. After Game 1 of that series, he was fined $50,000 for flashing middle fingers at fans.
“I will say last time in Boston, I don’t think that was the best – not this regular season, but when we played in the playoffs and everyone saw me flip off the birds and kind of lose my (expletive) a little bit – that wasn’t a great reflection of who I am and how I like to compete on a high level,” Irving said. “It wasn’t a great reflection on my end towards the next generation on what it means to control your emotions in that type of environment, no matter what people are yelling at you.
“I’m built for these moments, to be able to handle circumstances like that, and I’ve been able to grow since then. So of course it’s going to be a hectic environment, but I’m looking forward to it and I see it as a healthy relationship that I have with the fans. I almost think about ‘Gladiator,’ just winning the crowd over. It is good to hear the TD Garden silent when you’re playing well. They still respect great basketball.”
Irving is five years removed from his tumultuous stint with the Celtics, but he’s sure to hear more boos from the Garden crowd Thursday night.
