If the Boston Celtics want to take a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals, they’ll need to do it without Kristaps Porzingis.
Celtics Porzingis ruled out for Game 3 He was ruled out of Wednesday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks with a left leg injury, described as a dislocated left posterior tibial tendon.
Porzingis was visibly injured in the Celtics’ Game 2 win after a box-out collision with Mavericks center Derek Lively II, limping off the court. He was cautious the rest of the game and did not play at all in the final four minutes.
Porzingis was initially listed as day-to-day and questionable for Game 3 on Tuesday. At the time, the Celtics gave the injury a more complicated name: a torn medial retina in his left leg with a dislocated posterior tibial tendon. The injury was said to be separate from the calf injury that sidelined him in the previous two rounds of the playoffs.
These types of injuries are rare and there is little precedent to gauge when Porzingis might return, and while the big man expressed optimism that it wouldn’t sideline him, he’s clearly on a different path now.
“I’m optimistic,” Porzingis said Tuesday in Dallas. “Like I said, I’ll try my best to be out tomorrow. … There’s nothing stopping me unless they say I’m banned. That’s the only reason I’m not out, but who knows what tomorrow will bring.”
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters on Wednesday that Porzingis’ condition was evolving day-to-day, but the medical team determined his tests were insufficient to allow him to play in Game 3.
Porzingis’ return suddenly became much more meaningful in a series that seemed all but over after two games, with the Celtics dominating the first and second games at home, and Porzingis playing a key role in those victories despite coming off the bench.
The Celtics won those games by a combined 25 points and Porzingis was plus-25 in those games. Dallas tied the Celtics without Porzingis and now has a chance to bounce back at home.
