Insider Sees 'Optimism' That Porzingis Could Return for Celtics in NBA Finals Opener

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis remains sidelined with a calf strain, but there is growing hope that the break before the NBA Finals will give him enough time to recover. He has been out for a month after suffering the injury in Game 4 of the series against Miami.

NBA insider Shams Charania addressed the situation on a recent episode of FanDuel's "Run It Back." He said Porzingis appears to be making progress, though the road back is not yet clear. "There's definitely hope. There's definitely optimism," Charania said.

Charania added that Porzingis still has some hurdles to clear before he can suit up for Game 1 of the Finals. Even so, he said there is hope that the coming week-plus will give the big man the time he needs to ramp up his activity and prepare for the opener next Thursday, most likely against the Dallas Mavericks.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was more cautious when he spoke Wednesday morning on 98.5 The Sports Hub's Zolak & Bertrand. He said he is not sure whether Porzingis will be ready in time, but he pointed to signs of improvement.

"I do know that he ramped it up on the court a little bit," Mazzulla said. He explained that Porzingis had not taken part in a couple of team shootarounds, but has been working in a 1-on-1 setting where he is gradually raising the intensity. Mazzulla said the center is "working really, really hard" and that he knows Porzingis is "getting better and better."

Boston has managed well without him. The Celtics are 9-1 this postseason with Porzingis out, and they arrive at the Finals fresh off a sweep of Indiana in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Injuries have also shaped the path Boston took to get here. Jimmy Butler missed the entire series against the Heat, while Donovan Mitchell and Tyrese Haliburton each sat out multiple games during the Cavaliers and Pacers series, respectively.

The Finals could look different in that respect. The stars on the Mavericks and the Timberwolves are healthy, and a full-strength opponent could present a different kind of challenge than the Celtics have faced throughout this postseason.