Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis gets critical status update for Game 4 vs. Pacers

With a 3-0 lead against the Pacers, the Celtics don’t have to rush Porzingis back into the lineup

A victory in Game 3 on the road over the Indiana Pacers has put the Boston Celtics in an advantageous position. They have a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals, and that means they don’t have to rush injured big man Kristaps Porzingis back into the lineup.

With that being said, it’s not really a surprise that the Celtics have ruled out Porzingis for Game 4, per Chris Forsberg of NBCS. Luke Kornet and Jrue Holiday are questionable, though the latter is expected to suit up after impressing in Game 3.

The Celtics have won three hard-fought games in the series and it’s not likely that they are taking their opponents lightly. But Porzingis has been out with a calf injury since their first-round series against the Miami Heat and head coach Joe Mazzulla does not have to rush him back into the lineup before he has healed from the injury.

There is no doubt that Porzingis is an important part of the team because he gives them a 7-foot-2 big man who can score inside and out, and he can also defend. The Celtics have been relying on veteran Al Horford as their starting center while Porzingis is unavailable. Horford is coming off a spectacular performance in Game 3 where he scored 23 points with five rebounds. He connected on 8-of-14 shots from the field, including 7-of-12 from beyond the arc.

When Horford is on the bench, the Celtics have often used a smaller lineup, but they were giving back up Luke Kornet some playing time. Kornet suffered a wrist injury in Game 2 and played just four minutes in that game. He did not play at all in Game 3.

Celtics know that a series can turn quickly

Boston is clearly in a great position to get to the championship round as a result of their 3-0 edge in the series. The team is clearly confident in its abilities after reeling off an 11-2 record in the playoffs following a regular season that saw them tally the best record in the NBA. However, they will likely be even stronger when Porzingis returns to action

The Celtics found themselves in an 0-3 hole in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals to the Heat. Boston bounced back with three consecutive wins to square the series, but they were blown out at home in Game 7 and lost the series.

Boston fought back from an 18-point deficit in Game 3 to rally for the victory. Jrue Holliday played a huge role for the Green, as his layup and subsequent free throw gave them a late lead in the fourth quarter. His defense on Andrew Nembhard on the ensuing possession resulted in a steal and two subsequent free throws. The Celtics escaped Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a 114-111 victory.

Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle knows his team is one loss away from its season coming to an end, but he told reporters that there was no give up in his team and that the Pacers would fight for 48 minutes in Game 4.

Kristaps Porzingis had big year for the Celtics

There were many observers that questioned the acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis by the Celtics, but he has been an excellent fit when he’s in the lineup. He averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.95 blocks per game for the Celtics. He also shot 51.8 percent from the field and an eye-catching 85.8 percent from the free-throw line in the regular season.

If the Pacers win Game 4 and extend the series, Porzingis could come back for their next outing. If the Celtics end the series, Boston hope that he could be back for Game 1 against the Western Conference champions.