-
Chris Herring, ESPN Senior Writer
MIAMI — The Boston Celtics has gone one step further to eliminate the competition Miami Heat with persuasion 102-88 Won Game 4 on Monday to take a 3-1 series lead.
But victory may come at a high price, because Kristaps Porzingis, the team’s starting center, limped off the field with a calf injury just before halftime and did not return. Sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Porzingis will be photographed on Tuesday, but early indications are that he does not have an Achilles tendon injury.
After the game, Porzingis slowly walked out of the visitors’ locker room area with a gray walking boot on his right foot.
Porzingis seemed to have adjusted something after catching the pass from Jaylen Brown late in the second half. After receiving the ball, Porzingis began driving to his left, then grimaced before quickly giving the ball back to Brown and limping off midway through the play. Porzingis did not appear to be touched by anyone on the play where he was injured.
Upon entering the locker room with a support staff member, Porzingis quickly covered his face with his jersey in apparent frustration.
Minutes after his injury, the Celtics issued an update saying Porzingis was suffering from tightness in his right calf. After the game, Porzingis posted to social media, documenting the team’s victory and adding, “Thanks for all the support, it’ll be okay” with a biceps emoji at the end of the message.
Celtics players hope that Porzingis’ injury is not serious but acknowledge that his presence as a floor spacer and rim protector means things will change if he forces must stop playing.
“All of us, our mindsets have to change,” the veterans center said. Al Horford, who started the second half in place of Porzingis. “I talked to Luke [Kornet] and Xavier [Tillman]and let them know that we all have to be ready to step up and do a little bit more, because KP played very well defensively.”
Speak Jayson Tatum: “We’ll have to play differently, but it’s a next-man-up mentality in the long run.” [he’s out]. Obviously I don’t know anything [yet] — but that’s next. We just have to find a way to win every game.”
The 7-foot-3 Porzingis, who joined the Celtics last season via trade with Washington Witch, has been just about right for his new team, averaging 20 points and 7 rebounds per game with career-best efficiency, while giving Boston an even more dangerous five-quarter offense. But the Celtics, who went 21-4 in the regular season in Porzingis’ absence, looked fine Monday in his absence.
A lot of that comes from the Heat not having an answer for White Derrick. The guard fired up from deep in a first half in which he shot 6-for-9 from 3, and finished with a career-high 38 points.
“It’s unreal. You hit a few, and after a while, you feel like you can’t miss — the basket is so big,” said the 6-4 White, who also hit a pair of dunks. normal, said. White’s scoring outburst provided an even steeper upswing for the short-handed, scoring-challenged Heat, who were unable to repeat their hot shooting from Game 2, when they achieved a streak of franchise playoff streak of 23 times.
Including Monday’s 9-for-33 performance from deep, Miami has shot just 29.5 percent (18-for-61) since then. Games 3 and 4 marked the first time since 2022 that Miami was held to less than 90 points in back-to-back games, whether regular season or playoffs. The Celtics were also opponents last time out, which also happened in the 2022 Eastern Conference finals.
Boston will look to wrap up the best-of-seven series when it hosts Game 5 on Wednesday night.
