Kristaps Porzingis injury: Celtics big man suffers calf issue vs. Magic
Kristaps Porzingis left the Celtics game against the Magic on Friday afternoon with left calf tightness. The big man suffered the injury early in the third quarter before he was subbed out of the game for Luke Kornet after a timeout with 6:44 remaining in the period. Porzingis posted nine points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals in 22 minutes before being ruled out for the game by the Celtics late in the third quarter.
Porzingis had played in 14 of Boston’s 15 games this year before Friday afternoon, putting together one of the most productive seasons of his career to date by shooting 55 percent from the field. He has dealt with a number of injury issues throughout his career but the 7-foot-3 center showed no major physical issues in hi first weeks with Boton despite dealing with a bout of plantar fasciitis over the summer that forced him to miss the FIBA World Cup.
With Porzingis sidelined, the Celtics turned to Luke Kornet for more minutes in the middle against Orlando along with a bigger role for Oshae Brissett. The team was already down one starter for the matchup with Jrue Holiday ruled out due to a sprained ankle. Derrick White also suffered an arm contusion against the Magic in the first quarter but played through the injury.
