Boston Celtics star big man Kristaps Porzingis suffered a torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg during Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the team announced Tuesday afternoon.
While this injury is unrelated to his previous right calf injury, the team and Porzingis have consulted with numerous specialists regarding this rare leg injury. As of right now, the team is listing Porzingis as day-to-day, but there is doubt surrounding his status for the remainder of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.
During his media availability on Tuesday, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said Porzingis’ injury is a “serious injury” that the team’s medical staff will need to review further before making a decision on his status for Game 3 on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. Mazzulla made it clear that Porzingis will not have the final say in whether he plays.
The good news for Porzingis and the Celtics is that he appears to be in good spirits, according to The Athletic’s Jared Weiss. The Latvian big man did not have a noticeable limp while walking around the back tunnels of American Airlines Center on Tuesday during the team’s media availability.
Just walked past Porziņģis and he seems to be in good spirits and walking comfortably. https://t.co/ydRD0goo29 pic.twitter.com/dKvCHDRMVd
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) June 11, 2024
This has suddenly become the major story surrounding the NBA Finals, as Porzingis’ contributions have been vital to the success of the Celtics.
Porzingis has averaged 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks off the bench through the first two games of this series against his former team. He has also shot 12-of-20 (60.0 percent) from the floor against the Mavs. Boston has gone 5-1 with Porzingis on the floor in the playoffs.
During his opening remarks in front of the media on Tuesday, Porzingis said it is a “random situation” and that he is going to do everything he can to be available and play in Game 3, according to Adam Reisinger.
In the event that Porzingis is unable to play in Game 3 on Wednesday night, Al Horford would likely see his minutes increase in the Celtics’ starting lineup. Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman Sr. would be candidates to see their roles increase off the bench. Tillman has not played in this series, and Kornet saw just three minutes at the end of Game 1. Mazzulla and the Celtics have kept the same eight-man rotation of their starting lineup, plus Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Porzingis off the bench, through the first two games of this series.
The potential absence of Porzingis looms large, especially since he is in the running for Finals MVP given the impact he has made off the bench to propel the Celtics to their 2-0 series lead.
An official update on Porzingis’ status for Game 3 will likely be kept a secret until right before the opening tip on Wednesday night.
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