Boston Celtics forward Kristaps Porzingis will miss Game 3 of the season NBA final against dallas mavericks, The team announced Wednesday evening, less than two hours before the report. Porzingis was the first player to take the field in the game Penalty kicks for the team on Wednesday, according to multiple reports, but was ultimately unable to attempt as Dallas tries to cut into Boston’s 2-0 lead.
The team first announced Tuesday afternoon that Porzingis suffered a “rupture Medial retinaallowing the posterior tibial tendon in his left leg to dislocate. While speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Celtics coach Joe Mazzola said Porzingis is dealing with a “serious injury,” and when asked if he would play in Game 3, the coach said: “I have no idea.” “.
He added: “He is doing anything and everything he can to be ready for tomorrow’s match.” Mazzola said. “It’s a serious injury, and at the end of the day, the medical team won’t put him in any bad situation. We made the decision to play out of his control, given his importance. So he will do everything he can to play, and then we will leave it to our medical team.”
The Celtics say Porzingis suffered the injury with 3:27 left in the third quarter, and that it is unrelated to a previous calf injury in his right leg that sidelined him for most of the playoffs. It looked as if Porzingis tweaked his right calf late in the fourth quarter of Game 2, after fighting for a rebound with P.J. Washington. He stumbled and fell to the ground awkwardly, and could be seen running backwards with a strange gait. He stayed in the game for a few more possessions, then exited. He did not return to the match and was seen extending his right leg.
Porzingis said after the game He wasn’t worried Regarding the embarrassing fall, Mazzola said his concern level was “zero” for the Celtics big man, but now it appears he has suffered a different injury that the team should be worried about.
Sidelining Porzingis again changes things for Boston. Porzingis’ rim protection has been key in limiting Dallas’ high-ball threats, and he has already notched five blocks through two games. It was great defense in space, as well as in the paint, and on the other end, the Mavericks had no answer for him.
Porzingis had come off the bench in the first two games of the Finals, but was incredibly effective on the floor, dropping 20 points in Game 1 on 8-of-13 shooting and 12 points in Game 2. It makes life difficult for the Dallas defense, and while the Celtics have had no issues playing without him on their run to the Finals, the injury opens the door a bit for the Mavericks to fill the gap created by Boston.
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