The Boston Celtics introduced Wednesday afternoon that Kristaps Porzingis will miss tonight’s matchup in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves with a proper knee contusion.
Tonight would be the ninth matchup missed by Porzingis this season. Third in scoring for the C’s, the rim protector is averaging 19.8 factors, 7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.8 blocks in his first season with Boston.
The information comes after Porzingis was referred to as for a controversial foul on Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin with .7 seconds left within the recreation Monday evening. Whereas the NBA referees later performed a replay to find out if the foul occurred, proof discovered he legally blocked the shot because of incidental contact to Mathurin’s arm.
Though it’s unclear how Porzingis suffered the harm, he’s coming off a 38-minute efficiency on Monday in opposition to Indiana. Regardless of the loss, the Latvian native had 19 factors, three blocks, seven assists, and 5 rebounds.
Whereas Boston can be skinny on the entrance court docket place, each Jrue Vacation and Al Horford can be found to go well with up tonight.
Anticipated to have a monumental function, Al Horford will get the beginning nod this night. With out Porzingis, the Celtics could have a tricky matchup in opposition to huge males Karl-Anthony Cities and Rudy Gobert.
Of their lone loss to Minnesota again in November, Horford began alongside Porzingis, ending with simply three factors, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds. In seven video games as a starter instead of the unicorn, he’s averaging 10 factors, 7.8 rebounds, and three.6 assists.
Tonight can be a tricky job for Boston, since Minnesota stays the highest defensive staff within the league.
Whereas his play isn’t at all times mirrored within the field rating, Horford has been stellar principally off the bench this season, averaging 7.7 factors, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.1 block on the 12 months.
Of their remaining matchup of the season, Boston (28-8) will look to even up the season collection beginning at 7 p.m. on the TD Backyard.