PHILADELPHIA — Kristaps Porzingis has had a healthy start to his career against the Celtics but suffered a bit of a setback Monday night against the Knicks on that front. The big man revealed at Boston’s shootaround on Wednesday morning that he suffered a knee contusion during Boston’s win over the Knicks.
“I got it on the (Julius) Randle drive,” Porzingis said. “Just got hit just like a contusion. Nothing too serious but it’s a bit stiff.”
The team listed him as questionable for Wednesday’s matchup against the 76ers and despite not taking part in much of shoot around, Porzingis was optimistic he could still get the green light to suit up on Wednesday night.
“These things you can work through and you can come back pretty quickly. So I’m still hoping for positive news,” he said.
Porzingis played through the knee injury on Monday night and is averaging 30 minutes per game this year. With a busy schedule looming ahead this week though including four games in six nights, the 7-foot-3 center understands Boston’s training staff may show some caution with him given his injury history.
“That’s another thing, medical staff, they want to be smart about these things,” Porzingis said. “You know, we have to play the long game and know not to force something now, that’s not maybe as necessary. It’s most important that towards the end of the season, that’s when we need to be on and healthy and that’s what they’re making sure of. So I’m just, you know, following the orders.”
Jaylen Brown was also a late add to Boston’s injury report for Wednesday night due to illness. He did not attend the team’s shootaround on Wednesday morning but is listed as questionable. Neemias Queta is also questionable for Boston.
The 76ers have not released their injury report for Wednesday night coming off a back-to-back but Porzingis hinted that Joel Embiid may sit out the second half of the back-to-back.
The Celtics and 76ers tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Center.
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