BOSTON — Kristaps Porzingis was not on the Celtics bench on Monday night as his teammates beat the Utah Jazz for their fifth straight win. However, Porzingis was on the mind of Joe Mazzulla and many of his teammates after he missed his sixth straight game due to illness.
Porzingis made his first public comments about his condition in the midst of Boston’s win after he was downgraded from doubtful to out before the victory.
“I have been dealing with some viral illness that we haven’t been able to fully identify yet,” Porzingis posted on social media. “I am recovering and getting better. But still working my way back to full strength to help this team. Thanks for support and Im hoping for a healthy return soon.”
“I think he said it best,” Mazzulla said. “I think at the end of the day, just making sure he’s safe. He’s still able to come in and be around the guys as best he can. Try to stay in the best shape possible. He’s been on the court. He’s doing what he can to get back. But he kind of said it best - at the same time, we’ve just got to kind of make sure he’s good, and we do what’s best for him.”
Porzingis’ teammates also struck optimistic tones when speaking about the big man’s recovery after Monday’s win
“He’s been around, he’s doing better,” Sam Hauser said after scoring a career-high 33 points against the Jazz. “Hopefully, we can see him Wednesday. If not, hopefully, next game after that. Just hoping he’s doing all right. I think he is. He looks like he’s coming around, so that’s exciting for us.”
Porzingis has missed seven of Boston’s last eight games overall dating back to a win over the Raptors on February 25.
“I know it’s difficult for him not to be out there playing with us and he’s doing everything he can to get back,” Derrick White added. “He knows we always got his back and we know he’s doing everything he needs to do to get back and try to figure out what’s going on. When he comes back, it’ll be great to have him.”
The next update on the Celtics big man will come on Tuesday afternoon when the team releases its injury report for Wednesday’s showdown with the Oklahoma City Thunder at TD Garden.
Joe Mazzulla responded to Porzingis’ statement after the win with more insight on his condition.
