With Kristaps Porzingis dealing with an illness, Al Horford has been slotted into the starting center position for the majority of the second-round series. However, with Tatum out in Game 5, Porzingis slid back into the starting lineup for the first time since Game 1.

Don’t come in Luke Kornet’s house. Well, unless you want to get blocked by the Boston Celtics backup center. Because on Wednesday night in Game 5 against the Knicks in Boston, Kornet blocked everything.

ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania said on ABC’s coverage before Knicks-Celtics Game 3 on Saturday that Porzingis is still dealing with the effects of a virus that had ailed him back in March. Charania said the Celtics star thought he had felt he improved, but things have been up-and-down since the second round began this week.

Porzingis has battled an upper respiratory illness since the end of the regular season and has been ineffective for much of the postseason.

Kristaps Porzingis's availability has been a huge question mark for the Boston Celtics during their second-round series against the New York Knicks. The star big man did not play in the second half of Game 1,

The Celtics are unlikely to pursue a Disabled Player Exception in the wake of Jayson Tatum ‘s Achilles tear, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. The DPE provides an avenue to help teams replace players who suffer serious injuries, but it carries restrictions that will limit its usefulness for Boston.

The Boston Celtics will have a hard time retaining Kristaps Porzingis due to cap space issues. With the likelihood of the big man heading out of Boston following the next season, we take a look at some of the best deals the Celtics can facilitate to get the most out of his value now.

The Boston Celtics will "leave it all out there" as they bid to defend their NBA Championship without injured talisman Jayson Tatum, says Kristaps Porzingis.