NBA Finals 2024: Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis confirms he’ll play Game 1

Kristaps Porzingis left no doubt.

He will play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night.

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“I’ll play tomorrow,” Porzingis said at Wednesday’s Media Day. “I’m going to play tomorrow.”

The Celtics’ starting center has been out since April 29, when he strained his calf during Boston’s first-round series against Miami. Porzingis will have been out 37 days by the time the Celtics tip off against the Western Conference champion Mavericks on Thursday at 8:37 p.m. in TD Garden.

According to teammates, Porzingis has looked like himself in recent practices. The 7-foot-2 sharpshooter reportedly participated in multiple scrimmages. Porzingis warmed up with the rest of his teammates Wednesday during a shoot-around period that opened practice at TD Garden, taking one-legged shots and walking around the court.

“I think he’s ready, for sure,” Celtics forward Xavier Tillman said.

Porzingis said he will not be nervous for Game 1, but isn’t sure how he feels. He said he was looking forward to tip-off for the chance to finally compete and because he prefers games so much more to practice and rehab. Teammates echoed Porzingis’ sentiment by calling him “a gamer.”

Porzingis will be at the center of the NBA Finals for reasons beyond his injury. He will be playing a former team that traded him two years ago to the Wizards. Porzingis’ stint in Dallas ended amid a reportedly sour relationship with Mavericks star Luka Doncic.

On Wednesday, Porzingis insisted they’ve always had a good relationship. The two are likely to square off early in Game 1, when Dallas should test Porzingis’ mobility after more than a month off the court.

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