Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis will be available for the team’s matchup with the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. It could be Porzingis’ first appearance since Feb. 26. He missed the Celtics’ last eight games due to a mystery illness.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said on Saturday that if Porzingis does play, it will probably be on a minutes restriction.
There has been little information regarding Porzingis’ situation over the past few weeks. The team has repeatedly listed him as out due to a non-COVID illness but has not provided any other information. On March 6, Mazzulla said, “He’s sick. He’s 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.”
Isiah Thomas declined to be in new Celtics doc after ‘Last Dance’ depiction: ‘I wasn’t gonna get fooled twice’ Austin Nivison Isiah Thomas declined to be in new Celtics doc after ‘Last Dance’ depiction: ‘I wasn’t gonna get fooled twice’ Porzingis, who has been on the bench with the team throughout this period, eventually posted an update on social media on March 10, saying that the team hadn’t been able to figure out his illness.
“I have been dealing with some viral illness that we haven’t been able to fully identify yet,” Porzingis wrote. I am recovering and getting better, but I am still working my way back to full strength to help this team. Thanks for your support, and I’m hoping for a healthy return soon.”
This has certainly been a strange situation, but the good news is that Porzingis appears to finally be healthy. This has been a stop-start campaign for the oft-injured big man, who has only appeared in 32 games due in large part to an offseason ankle surgery that kept him on the sideline until Nov. 25. As long as he’s ready for the postseason, though, that’s all that matters.
The Celtics were able to win a title last season despite only having Porzingis for seven playoff games. It’s hard to imagine they would be able to pull off that feat again, especially with how strong the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder look.
During Porzingis’ absence, the Celtics went 6-2, but those losses were to the Cavaliers and Thunder, both at home. Depending on how the playoffs shake out, they might have to beat both of those teams to complete a repeat. To do that, they’ll need their 7-foot-2 “cheat code” on the floor.
The New York Knicks hit the road looking to win their third straight game when they take on the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center on Saturday. New York is 42-23 overall and 21-12 on the road, while Golden State is 38-28 overall and 20-13 at home. The Knicks are coming off a 114-113 overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday. The Warriors are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, and are riding a six-game winning streak. Golden State is looking to build off its 130-104 blowout win over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday. Jalen Brunson (ankle) is out for the Knicks.
Tipoff in San Francisco is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET. The Warriors are favored by 7.5 points in the latest Knicks vs. Warriors odds via SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 228.5 points. Before locking in any Warriors vs. Knicks picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters Week 21 of the 2024-25 NBA season on a sizzling 148-107 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. It’s also an outstanding 19-10 (65%) on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on Knicks vs. Warriors and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for the game:
Knicks vs. Warriors spread: Warriors -7.5 Knicks vs. Warriors over/under: 228.5 points Knicks vs. Warriors money line: Warriors -289, Knicks +232 Knicks vs. Warriors picks: See picks at SportsLine Knicks vs. Warriors streaming: FuboTV (Try for free) bet365 logo rectangle Bet $5 & Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose Code: CBSBET365 Claim bonus 21+ only (18+ in KY). *T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Offer available in AZ/CO/IA/IN/IL/KY/PA/LA (select parishes)/NC/NJ/OH/TN/VA. Void where prohibited. Available to new customers only. Must claim offer within 30 days following registration. Deposit $10+ and place $5+ qualifying bet (odds of -500 or greater). Bonus bets are non-withdrawable and the Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. Bonus Bets expire after 7 days. Add’l terms and restriction apply see at bet365.com. The above bonus code can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. Data & text rates may apply. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ, IN, IL, KY, LA, NC, NJ, OH, TN, VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA).21+ only (18+ in KY). *T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Offer available in AZ/CO/IA/IN/IL/KY/PA/LA (select parishes)/NC/NJ/OH/TN/VA. Void where prohibited. Available to new customers only. Must claim offer within 30 days following registration. Deposit $10+ and place $5+ qualifying bet (odds of -500 or greater). Bonus bets are non-withdrawable and the Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. Bonus Bets expire after 7 days. Add’l terms and restriction apply see at bet365.com. The above bonus code can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. Data & text rates may apply. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ, IN, IL, KY, LA, NC, NJ, OH, TN, VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA).21+ only (18+ in KY). *T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Offer available in AZ/CO/IA/IN/IL/KY/PA/LA (select parishes)/NC/NJ/OH/TN/VA. Void where prohibited. Available to new customers only. Must claim offer within 30 days following registration. Deposit $10+ and place $5+ qualifying bet (odds of -500 or greater). Bonus bets are non-withdrawable and the Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. Bonus Bets expire after 7 days. Add’l terms and restriction apply see at bet365.com. The above bonus code can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. Data & text rates may apply. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ, IN, IL, KY, LA, NC, NJ, OH, TN, VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). Why the Warriors can cover The Warriors are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now. Golden State is 9-1 in its last 10 games, and has been dominant on both ends of the floor. During those 10 games, the Warriors are averaging 122.3 points per game, while allowing opponents an average of 109.1 points per game. Golden State is 35-30-1 against the spread this season.
Stephen Curry continues to play at a high level for Golden State. The two-time NBA MVP is averaging 24.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game. Jonathan Kuminga (16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds per game) and Jimmy Butler (16.8 points, 5.8 assists, 5.6 rebounds per game) lead the Warriors’ supporting cast. See which team to pick here.
Why the Knicks can cover The Knicks will be without Brunson, but still have the firepower to keep this game close and potentially win outright. New York averages 117.1 points per game, which is the sixth best number in the NBA. The Knicks have also gone 21-12 on the road this season.
Center Karl-Anthony Towns presents a significant matchup issue for Golden State. The five-time NBA All-Star has been outstanding in his first season in New York, averaging 24.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. Shooting guard Josh Hart averages close to a double-double with per game averages of 14.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assist per game. See which team to pick here.
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New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson is expected to be out through late March or early April while recovering from a right ankle sprain, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Brunson sustained the injury during New York’s 113-109 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers last Thursday night. During the overtime period, as Brunson was driving to the basket and drew a foul, he crumpled to the floor in obvious pain. The replay showed that he stepped on the ankle of Lakers guard Austin Reaves, causing his foot to bend at an awkward angle.
Brunson managed to stay in the game to shoot his free throws, but exited immediately afterward and did not return. Here’s how the injury occurred:
Brunson has been pivotal in the Knicks’ success this season. Since arriving to the team in the summer of 2022, he has been at the center of the most successful period for the Knicks this century. So his absence is a massive blow to a Knicks team that currently sits third in the Eastern Conference standings. If Brunson hits the longer end of his recovery timetable and is out through April 2, he will miss a total of 14 games, including matchups with the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Jalen Brunson injury: What is the Knicks’ short-term outlook without their star point guard? Jack Maloney Jalen Brunson injury: What is the Knicks’ short-term outlook without their star point guard? The Knicks have a bit of a cushion with a five-game lead over the Bucks and Indiana Pacers, but they’ll need to find other sources of scoring with Brunson on the shelf. In three games since his injury New York’s offense has dropped from 118 points per 100 possessions (fifth in the NBA) to 113 (19th). That being said, the defensive rating has improved from 114 to 107 as the Knicks have gone 2-1.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau spoke of Brunson’s grit despite leaving injured against the Lakers.
“His mental toughness is through the roof,” Thibodeau said. “It doesn’t surprise me the way he played the whole game. He still keeps battling and battling.”
Brunson’s absence leaves the Knicks without their leading scorer, and an adequate high-level ball handler, too. Thibodeau has leaned on the likes of Karl-Anthony Towns to carry the offensive load in the meantime, which he’s certainly capable of, but in terms of someone who can be a do-it-all creator, the Knicks don’t have anyone waiting in the wings to fill that role.
“It’s a bummer of an injury,” Josh Hart said after the Lakers game.
No team relies on its starters more than the Knicks, and with Brunson out they have over 35 minutes per night to fill.
The good news is that the injury wasn’t more serious, but for at least the next two weeks the Knicks will have to figure out how to stay afloat without their leading man.
