As of Wednesday, Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was still “not sure” whether 7-foot-2 big Kristaps Porzingis will be able to play in the opening game of the NBA Finals, despite the fact that Porzingis has “ramped it up” in practice.

On June 6, the Boston Celtics will host the first game of the NBA Finals, pitting the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Dallas Mavericks.

After tearing his soleus muscle in Game 4 of their first-round series against the Miami Heat on April 29, Porzingis has been out since.

“I just don’t know. “I don’t know yet,” Mazzulla stated during his weekly radio interview on 98.5 The Sports Hub on Wednesday.

“I am aware that he did step it up a notch when we were playing. His work ethic is second to none,” Mazzulla chimed in. He has been working on his game in a 1-on-1 scenario, increasing the intensity level, during a few shootarounds when he hasn’t participated in team activities. His performance has been steadily improving.Since Pоrzingis’s injury, the Celtics hаve wоn nine gаmes in а rоw аnԀ аre riԀing а seven-gаme winning streаk.

A translation from Latvian to English states that Porzingis said “see you in the finals,” seeming enthusiastic in a post to X.

If Kristaps Porzingis is unable to return to the Celtics lineup, Al Horford, who had a significant role in the Eastern Conference finals, has stated that he is prepared to take on whatever role required of him.

Porzingis, who is 28 years old, started 57 games during the regular season, averaging 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.