The Latvian center has missed a lot of time lately while dealing with what he recently revealed to be an unnamed viral infection, causing fans of the team to worry about whether this is simply a bad bug KP needs a little more time to recover from -- or something more serious that could jeopardize his health longer-term.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said the Celtics are a “significantly” different team when Porzingis is not available — no other Boston big can replicate his combination of 3-point shooting and top-tier rim defense — but still a formidable foe because of their depth and versatility.

Kristaps Porzingis missed the Celtics' 118-112 loss to the Thunder on Wednesday night. Porzingis has missed seven of the last eight games with a non-COVID illness.

Feb 12, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (0) during the second quarter at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images / Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Porzingis played 57 games during his first season in Boston but just seven games in the playoffs as he suffered multiple injuries during Boston’s title run. The veteran seven-footer has played more than 60 games in just one season since suffering an ACL tear with the Knicks during the 2018-19 season.

The Boston Celtics have had to play multiple games in a row without their starting center, but they might be close to getting him back.

Kristaps Porzingis said he is dealing with an unidentified viral illness that has kept him out of several games. He is hoping to return soon.

The Boston Celtics have been without Kristaps Porzingis for the last six games, including Monday night's win over the Utah Jazz, as the big man has been dealing what he described as a "viral illness" that the team hasn't "been able to fully identify yet.

The Celtics are hoping to get Kristaps Porzingis back soon as the center deals with a mysterious “viral illness.”