Celtics lower optimism, uncertain if Porzingis will arrive on time

Kristaps Porzingis has “upped the pace” of his training, but it’s “not clear” if the Boston Celtics star will be ready in time for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, according to Joe Mazzulla.

The first game of the NBA Finals will be played in Boston on June 6th, with anything yet to come in the Western Conference Finals series between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Porzingis has not played since suffering a soleus injury in Game 4 against the Miami Heat on April 29.

“I don’t know. I don’t know yet,” Mazzulla said Wednesday during his weekly radio interview on 98.5 Sports Hub.

“I know he’s put in some work on the court. Like I said, he’s working very, very hard,” Mazzula added. “We’ve had a couple of shooting sessions where he wasn’t able to do anything with the team, but he’s getting in some one-on-ones and increasing his intensity level. He’s just getting better and better.”

The Celtics are 9-1 since Porzingis’ injury so they haven’t missed him that much, but the Latvian would certainly be a great addition to a team that is competing for a ring more than ever before.

Meanwhile, the player was more optimistic in his next post.

Porzingis, 28, appeared in 57 regular season games, averaging 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.