Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis will miss Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, the team announced Wednesday night, just under two hours before kickoff. According to multiple reports, Porzingis was the first player to take the court for the team’s shooting practice on Wednesday but ultimately couldn’t take a shot as Dallas tried to cut into Boston’s 2-0 series lead.
The team announced Tuesday afternoon that Porzingis had suffered a “torn injury.” Medial retinaculum“The injury led to a dislocation of the posterior tibial tendon” in his left leg. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters on Tuesday that Porzini had a “significant injury,” and when asked if he would play in Game 3, the coach said he had “no idea.”
“He’s doing everything he can to be ready for tomorrow’s game,” Mazzulla said. “It’s a serious injury and at the end of the day the medical team isn’t going to put him at a disadvantage. Given his importance we’ve put the decision to play in his hands, so he’s going to do everything he can to play and then we’re going to leave the rest to the medical team.”
According to the Celtics, Porzingis sustained the injury with 3:27 remaining in the third quarter and is unrelated to a previous right calf injury that caused him to miss most of the playoffs. Porzingis appeared to hurt his right calf late in the fourth quarter of Game 2 after battling for a rebound with PJ Washington. He stumbled and fell awkwardly to the floor and was seen jogging back with an unnatural gait. He stayed in the game for a few more possessions before stalling out. He did not return to the game and was seen stretching out his right leg.
After the game, Porzingis said: He wasn’t worried Celtics big man Mazzulla commented on the awkward fall, saying his level of concern was “zero,” but it appears he has another injury that teams should be concerned about.
With Porzingis sidelined again, things have changed for Boston. Porzingis’ rim protection has been key in limiting Dallas’ lob threat, and he’s already recorded five blocks through two games. He’s a great defender in the paint as well as in space, and the Mavericks just don’t have an answer for him.
Porzingis came off the bench for the first two games of the Finals but was surprisingly effective when he was on the court, scoring 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting in Game 1 and 12 points in Game 2. The spacing he creates on the floor makes it difficult for Dallas’ defense to maneuver, and while the Celtics have played just fine without him leading up to the Finals, this injury gives the Mavericks a little more room to fill the gap left by Boston.
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