The Boston Celtics have not yet confirmed whether Kristaps Porzingis will be available for the NBA Finals starting on Thursday, but signs are promising, according to Matt Vautour of MassLive. Porzingis, who has been out with a calf strain since April 29, fully participated in Saturday’s practice, although coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned it was a light session, with a more rigorous practice scheduled for Sunday.
Porzingis’ role will be crucial in the matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, who have seen exceptional performances from their centers Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II during the playoffs. Mazzulla did not commit to Porzingis resuming a full workload if he is cleared for Game 1. Celtics players with NBA Finals experience from two years ago believe that their past playoff run will provide an advantage this time, reports Tim Bontemps of ESPN. In 2022, Boston faced a more experienced Golden State team, but now the Celtics hold the experience edge over Dallas.
Al Horford noted that the experience from 2022 will help significantly, as the team is now better prepared to handle the intense media coverage and other responsibilities that come with the Finals. “The first time, it felt like a roller coaster… Now we know what to expect and can manage everything better,” Horford stated.
Meanwhile, Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving is expected to play the role of the antagonist as he returns to Boston for the Finals, according to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated. Irving, who had a contentious relationship with Celtics fans during his two seasons with the team, famously disrespected the team’s logo after Brooklyn swept Boston in the first round of the 2021 playoffs.
