Kristaps Porzingis expected to return to Celtics lineup for Game 1 of NBA Finals

Kristaps Porzingis is set to make his triumphant return to the Boston Celtics lineup, according to reports.

Porzingis, 28, has been out since April 29 recovering from a calf injury that he suffered in a first-round playoff game against the Miami Heat. Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium posted to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the Latvian center was expected to return to action for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

Recent signs had all pointed to this outcome.

On May 29, one month after the injury, Porzingis posted to X a message in Latvian that read (after a thank you to the fans), "See you in the finals."

Over the weekend, Porzingis worked out with the team. Reporters saw him participating in 3-point drills on Friday even after practice had ended, and Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said Saturday that "he went through everything that the team did" in practice.

Porzingis and the Celtics will face off against the center's former team, the Dallas Mavericks, in the NBA Finals starting this week.

BOSTON CELTICS: Eastern Conference champs now just four wins from passing Lakers for most NBA titles

When do the NBA Finals start?

The NBA Finals begin Thursday, June 6. Game 1 tips off at the TD Garden in Boston at 8:30 p.m. ET with coverage provided by ABC.

HOW TO WATCH: See all NBA Finals action with a fuboTV subscription

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kristaps Porzingis injury update: Celtics center returns for Game 1