The Boston Celtics announced a new injury to former All-Star center Kristaps Porziņģis on Tuesday – “a torn medial retinaculum that could dislocate the posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg.”
The statement describes the condition as a “rare injury.” His availability for the remainder of the NBA Finals “will be determined on a day-by-day basis,” the team said, just hours before Porziņģis was officially listed as questionable for Game 3. Boston leads the Dallas Mavericks in the series 2-0 .
“I’m optimistic,” Porziņģis told reporters on Tuesday in Dallas, where Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday. “Like I said, I’ll do everything I can to be there tomorrow. Nothing will stop me unless I’m told I can’t play. That’s the only reason I wouldn’t be there.” but we’ll see tomorrow.”
The Celtics said the injury occurred at the 3:27 mark of the third quarter of Game 2. This play — a box-out collision with Mavericks center Dereck Lively II — is the only evidence of a possible leg injury:
Porziņģis moved more cautiously on his left leg after the collision, especially on the next possession, as he tried to close down the shooters. He stayed in the game another 2:45, fouled out, retreated to the locker room and then played another 3:26 in the fourth quarter.
“He’s doing everything he can to be ready for the game tomorrow,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “It is a serious injury. Ultimately, our team and the medical team will not put him in bad situations. We made the decision to play out of his hands because of his importance. He will do everything he can to play, and we will leave it to our medical team.”
How likely is Porziņģis to play in Game 3?
“I have no idea,” Mazzulla said.
Prior to Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Porziņģis missed 36 days, including both the semifinals and Eastern Conference finals, with a soleus strain in his right calf. His latest injury is “unrelated,” the team said.
The Celtics are +25 in Porziņģis’ 44 minutes through two games of the NBA Finals. They are even with Dallas in the 52 minutes he has been on the bench. During the regular season, Boston outscored its opponents by 11.2 points per 100 possessions in Porziņģis’ minutes; that number increased to 11.8 with him off the floor.
Porziņģis’ absence would mean more minutes for 38-year-old Al Horford, who started at center in Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals. Luke Kornet could see his first minutes off the bench in the series.
