Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić received a painkilling injection to address his chest bruise ahead of Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, ESPN reported Tuesday.
According to the report, he is expected to need another player ahead of Game 3. The Celtics and Mavericks will play Game 3 in Dallas on Wednesday. The Celtics hold a 2-0 lead in the series after sweeping the first two games in Boston.
“I feel good,” Dončić told reporters on Tuesday. “I don’t want to give more details, but I feel good.”
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said Sunday that Dončić suffered a chest bruise sometime during Game 1 while taking a charge or diving for a loose ball.
Dončić struggled with ankle and knee injuries during the play-offs. He was downgraded from probable to questionable ahead of Sunday’s Game 2, with the thoracic contusion added to his status. He was cleared to play after pre-match warm-ups.
Dončić initially appeared unaffected by the injury as he scored 23 points in the first quarter of Game 2. He slowed down in the second half and finished the game with 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. He also turned the ball over eight times and struggled to stay in front of the Boston ballhandlers on defense.
The Celtics blew a 54-51 halftime lead into double digits before fending off a late Dallas rally in the 105-98 Game 2 win.
The Celtics, meanwhile, announced Tuesday that Kristaps Porzingis has a “torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon” in his left leg and is day-to-day for Game 3. Porzingis suffered the leg injury in Game 2. The Celtics noted that the injury is not related to a calf injury that sidelined him for ten previous playoff games and described it as “rare”.
Porzingis was notably hobbled after the injury, which affected his left ankle. He scored 12 points and four rebounds while playing in limited action in the second half. He said Tuesday he is “optimistic” he can play in Game 3.
“I’ll see how I do tomorrow,” Porzingis told reporters. “Obviously, I’m going to do everything I can to be there tomorrow. And we’ll see. … I’m optimistic. Like I said, I’ll do everything I can to be there tomorrow. …
“Nothing will stop me unless I’m told not to, or not allowed to play.”
