After starring for the Celtics in Game 1, Kristaps Porziņģis appeared to make an adjustment during Boston’s Game 2 win Sunday over the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.
Porziņģis briefly left the sideline for the locker room and moved gingerly throughout his time on the court in the second half of his 12-point, four-rebound effort. He acknowledged after the match that something was wrong and that he likely to undergo imaging on Monday.
He wouldn’t say exactly what was wrong with him when asked about it after the match.
Porzingis would not reveal specifically what the injury was, but said it was not related to his previous soleus strain. He just said he felt something and then was a little limited. He also added that he would have died there and that he will do everything he can to be ready for G3. pic.twitter.com/eFbH4gbdcB
— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) June 10, 2024
“Obviously something happened a little bit,” Porziņģis said. ‘Got a few more days. Believe me, we will do everything we can to be back and moving well.’
When asked how difficult it was to play through the injury, he promised in no uncertain terms that he plans to play in Game 3 in Dallas on Wednesday.
“Not difficult at all,” Porziņģis continued. “I will die there if necessary.”
Porziņģis, 28, is playing in his first NBA Finals in his eighth NBA season. The Celtics now hold a 2-0 lead over the Mavericks, who Porziņģis played with for one season before being traded to the Washington Wizards midway through the 2021-22 season.
For Porziņģis, playing an impact role on the championship team would help rewrite a mixed NBA legacy. Porziņģis entered the league in 2015 with the New York Knicks amid outrageous expectations as the first of its kind. He has produced statistically (19.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 37.5% 3-point shooting) and made an All-Star team, but has not developed into a superstar or contributed to any meaningful victory. He now has a chance to clear that last blemish on his resume and seems to be pursuing it hungrily.
Injuries have riddled Porziņģis’ career, and he missed 10 games of this postseason with a calf injury suffered in the first round against the Miami Heat. He returned to the lineup for Game 1 against the Mavericks and produced 20 points, six rebounds, three blocks and two three-pointers in 21 minutes off the bench. He is determined to complete the series.
Of course, injuries don’t work that way. Imaging will reveal the true story of his availability for Wednesday and beyond. But he sounds confident in his status. As does Celtics head coach Joe Mazulla, who has “no concerns” about Porziņģis’ future status.
“He’s good,” Mazulla said after the match.
