Report: Porzingis could return by Game 4 vs. Pacers

Boston Celtics forward Kristaps Porzingis could return from his calf injury as soon as next Monday's Game 4 of the team's Eastern Conference finals series against the Indiana Pacers, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Porzingis hasn't played since leaving Game 4 of the team's first-round series against the Miami Heat on April 29 with a right soleus strain.

The former All-Star missed Tuesday's wild 133-128 overtime win in Game 1 of the series. Boston doesn't expect Porzingis to suit up for Thursday's Game 2 but is optimistic he'll return when the series shifts to Indiana, Wojnarowski adds.

The club also reportedly won't rush Porzingis back into the lineup. Should the heavily favored Celtics advance to the NBA Finals beginning June 6, it'll be nearly six weeks since he suffered the injury.

Porzingis has been a welcomed addition to the league-best Celtics since coming over in an offseason trade from the Washington Wizards. He averaged 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds on a career-high 51.6% shooting from the field in 2023-24.