Is Kristaps Porzingis Playing Tonight? Knicks vs Celtics Injury Report Confirms Star’s Status for Game 2

After the Celtics gentleman swept the Magic in the first round, everyone expected them to ride that momentum and cruise through the East Semis. The Knicks, however, had different plans. In one of the biggest playoffs upsets so far, Jalen Brunson and Co. stole one on the road on Monday and took a 1-0 lead against the reigning champs. A major reason behind the Celtics’ loss was the untimely departure of Kristaps Porzingis.

Yes, the Latvian Center abruptly subbed out of the game midway through the second quarter. Reports revealed that he was done for the night, struck by a sudden illness. With that call, Porzingis’ outing ended in just 13 minutes with a scoreless stat sheet. Of course, his exit impacted the Cs, as the Knicks exploited their lack of size on both ends. They made a miraculous 20-point comeback and won by three points in overtime. Now, the Celtics Nation is concerned about Porzingis’ health for tonight’s game.

Turns out, there might be nothing to worry about as Kristaps is listed as probable on the latest injury report. That means he is highly likely to suit up for Game 2. Even if there is a slight chance of his return, Porzingis will surely try to fight through the illness and ensure his availability. That’s what he did in Game 2 of the previous series after he took a nasty elbow from Goga Bitadze that left him with a giant gash on his forehead. He returned to drop a 20-point double-double.

Of course, this illness is nothing new for the big man. In fact, Joe Mazzulla believes it could be the same issue that forced him to miss eight straight games late in the regular season. Addressing that possibility, the head coach said on Tuesday, “Since he came back, I think he’s kind of been dealing with it and all fighting through it, working through it, doing the best that he can. And I think it was just too much for him in that game.” He continued, “He had been working through it since he’s gotten back and he’s done a great job of being available and it was just tough for him to continue yesterday. So, we’ll see how he handles that.” Although it took Porzingis a long time to recover from this illness the last time, his probable status for tonight comes as a ray of hope. Unfortunately, same cannot be said for Sam Hauser.

Sam Hauser’s health raises concerns for Celtics ahead of Game 2 vs Knicks

While there is optimism around Porzingis’ return, that’s not the case with Hauser. Well, he suffered a right ankle sprain after landing awkwardly during the third quarter of Monday’s game. And he was forced to exit he floor after playing only four minutes. Turns out, he is now listed as doubtful for tonight’s Game 2. That means he is likely to sit out the crucial home encounter.

Jan 12, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) warms up before playing against the New Orleans Pelicans at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

However, that should not impact Mazzulla’s overall gameplan because Hauser was not a key part of his rotation. Even in the last game, he finished scoreless on two shot attempts. In the Magic series, Sam had only one double-digit scoring game and finished scoreless in three outings. So, his unavailability should not affect the bigger picture. But Mazzulla could have benefited from having another player on the bench to rely on.

Of course, tonight’s game is pivotal for this series as another loss would put the Celtics’ season in serious jeopardy. Their aim for Game 2 would be to protect home court and level the series before heading to New York for the next two encounters. Do you think they can do it?

The post Is Kristaps Porzingis Playing Tonight? Knicks vs Celtics Injury Report Confirms Star’s Status for Game 2 appeared first on EssentiallySports.