The Celtics are receiving an early holiday gift.
According to reports, Kristaps Porzingis is set to make his season debut when the Boston Celtics face the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night at TD Garden.
I was just told on good authority Kristaps Porzingis intends to play tonight for the Celtics
— Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) November 25, 2024
KP is BACK
Porzingis suffered a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon in Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. The injury required offseason surgery and has kept him sidelined to start the season. Initially expected to return around Christmas, Porzingis is back after exactly five months of recovery.
"You saw it last year – we're a really good team right now, and when we get KP, we're just that much better on both ends of the floor," said Jayson Tatum. "It's like having a cheat code."
Porzingis averaged 20.1 points on 51.6% shooting from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc, along with 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.9 blocks last season. The Celtics, who are 14-3 this season, went 44-13 with Porzingis in the lineup a year ago.
The 7-foot-2 big man has remained optimistic about his return, and the Celtics share that optimism. During the team's annual media day, Brad Stevens mentioned they were "a little surprised" by his recovery. Last week, as part of the "next phase" of his rehab, Porzingis participated in a scrimmage with Boston's G-League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, and is officially listed as probable for tonight against the Clippers.
Porzingis' two-way impact elevates the Celtics to another level. Offensively, his ability to space the floor, set effective screens, create mismatches, punish switches, excel in pick-and-roll situations, and score from virtually anywhere makes Boston's offense even more dangerous. His elite post game also creates additional opportunities for the team. Defensively, he's a versatile player who provides elite rim protection—an area where the Celtics have struggled this season.
"I'm looking forward to him coming back, even doing some drills with him. He makes the game so much easier with his length and being able to protect the rim," Holiday said. "And then, offensively, he makes the game so much easier for everybody. Creating space for driving lanes of three-point shots, not being able to switch off of him, or when he gets a switch, him being able to take advantage of that. I can't wait for him to come back."
As the 29-year-old returns, he will likely be on a minute restriction as the Celtics cautiously manage their star big man's workload.
