NEW YORK — Ahead of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference semifinals on Saturday, the Boston Celtics have decided to keep Al Horford as their starting center, despite Kristaps Porzingis being ready to return to the court.
Porzingis, who has been battling an illness, had limited involvement in the Celtics’ previous two defeats against the New York Knicks on their home ground. He was unable to play after halftime in Game 1 and was restricted to just 14 minutes as a substitute in Game 2.
Before the game, head coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned that Porzingis, who originally began his NBA career with the Knicks, was set to participate and assess his condition during the match.
Porzingis had been sidelined for eight games during the latter part of the season due to an illness that initially manifested as an upper respiratory infection but subsequently worsened. Whether this has contributed to his current difficulties in the series remains uncertain.
Horford, too, has faced challenges in the series so far, shooting a mere 4 for 17 overall and successfully hitting only 1 out of 10 attempts from the 3-point line.