Celtics C Kristaps Porzingis (knee) out vs. Mavericks

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis was ruled out of Monday’s road game against the Dallas Mavericks with right knee inflammation.

It will be the 12th game Porzingis has missed this season.

He was out four consecutive games Nov. 26-Dec. 4 with a strained left calf and was most recently out Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs with the same knee issue.

Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (elbow) and center Al Horford (rest) did not play in Sunday’s 116-107 road victory over the Houston Rockets. Porzingis had 32 points, six rebounds and five blocked shots in the win.

 

In his first season with the Celtics, the 28-year-old Porzingis has averaged 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in 32 games, all starts.

In eight NBA seasons, he has averaged 19.6 points and 7.9 rebounds in 434 games (433 starts) for the New York Knicks (2016-18), Dallas Mavericks (2019-22), Washington Wizards (2022-23) and Celtics.

The Celtics have ruled out Kristaps Porzingis for Monday night’s game in Dallas with right knee inflammation. He is the only player on the injury report.

Porzingis did plenty of damage before his night off, notching a 32 point, 5 block performance to sink the Rockets on a night when nearly every Celtic struggled shooting the ball.

One of the few bright spots, he buried six three-pointers on the way to an ugly win.

The Celtics have taken a cautious approach with their top six this year, with their 3.5-game stranglehold on the number one seed in the East enabling them to manage injuries more aggressively.

Porzingis figures to be back for Thursday night’s battle with the Miami Heat, a nationally televised grudge match that is sure to annoy even the most mentally stable of Celtics fans.

Tonight’s game will also feature a pair of revenge games on Dallas’ end, with Grant Williams facing his former team for the first time since signing with the Mavericks this of season.

Kyrie Irving will also make an appearance, which always figures to be a fun matchup given his history with Boston.