Overview

• Kristaps Porzingis, who has been a key contributor in his first year with the Boston Celtics, is expected to return to the court for the game against the New York Knicks on Friday, December 8, after missing the last four games due to a strained calf.
• Porzingis credits his successful integration with the Celtics to his maturity and clarity of roles within the team.
• Despite the Celtics' strong start to the season, with a 15-5 record and a top position in the Eastern Conference, Porzingis believes there is still room for improvement, particularly in terms of consistency and exploiting mismatches against opponents.
• Porzingis' return is expected to strengthen the Celtics' defense, as he leads the team in blocks despite missing the last four games.
• The Celtics are set to begin a string of five straight home games, starting with the game against the Knicks.