Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis sidelined with mysterious ‘viral illness’

Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis has been mysteriously out with an illness for Boston’s past six games and his return to the court remains an unknown.

Porzingis confirmed in a social media post that he has been “dealing with some viral illness that we haven’t been able to fully identify yet.”

It appeared he was going to return from injury Saturday in a prime-time matchup with the Lakers, as he was upgraded to questionable for that game after initially being listed as doubtful.

However, he was ultimately downgraded to out for the game with a “non-Covid illness.”

“I am recovering and getting better,” Porzingis said. “But still working my way back to full strength to help this team. Thanks for support and Im hoping for a healthy return soon.”

The update for the former first-round Knick pick is certainly ominous for the defending champions as they are being forced to start 38-year-old Al Horford.

Horford filled in admirably against the Lakers on Saturday, playing 37 minutes while consistently being hunted on defense by Luka Doncic and LeBron James in Boston’s 111-101 win.

Ahead of Monday’s game against the Jazz, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters that Porzingis is “getting close.”

Although the previous week, Mazzulla had said that Porzingis was “coming into the facility every day trying to get shots up, sweat it out. He’s just not feeling well. He is working to get back.”

Boston has the league’s third-best record (47-18) and is the favorite to win the Eastern Conference, despite the Cavaliers (54-10) having the NBA’s best record.

Porzingis will be a major piece to the Boston repeat champion puzzle, as the Celtics will have to contend with Cleveland’s size to get out of the Eastern Conference.

He will be relied upon to help compete with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley on the inside as the Celtics and Cavaliers appear to be on a collision course for the conference finals.