Last Tuesday, June 11, the Boston Celtics announced on that star center Kristaps Porzingis has suffered a new injury in the Game 2 of NBA Finals which was a “torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg.”
Kristaps Porzingis endured a pivotal moment during Game 2 of the 2023/24 NBA Finals, held on Monday, June 10 (Philippine Standard Time), at the renowned TD Garden, where basketball history was made.
In a tense showdown, the 28-year-old basketball star collided with Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II at the 3:27 mark of the third quarter, sending shockwaves through the arena. Kristaps Porzingis, visibly affected, was seen favoring his left leg post-collision, stirring concern among fans and analysts about his well-being and its potential impact on the game's outcome.
The Celtics’ statement confirmed that Porzingis has suffered a “rare injury,” and was forced to miss Game 3 of the NBA Finals due to his rare injury condition. The Celtics’ management are yet to release their Game 4 injury report, but it’s worth noting that the center was the first player present at the team’s shootaround on Thursday. As the series progressed, anticipation surrounded Porzingis' return, especially with Boston holding a commanding 3-0 lead.
Despite uncertainties, Porzingis displayed resilience, being the first player present at the team's shootaround on Thursday. However, Boston's head coach, Joe Mazzula, brushed off speculations about extending Porzingis' recovery time, emphasizing it wouldn't affect their strategy, even with their significant series lead.
“No. No, I think that’s a rather passive way to look at things. I think at the end of the day, we have to continue to do what we do. Kristaps has gotten better from yesterday to today. He is fighting like hell to play. But it’s going to be up to us to protect him and to make sure that it’s in the best interest for him as a player and as a person,” Mazzulla stated.
“Going into what’s best for a player and a person has nothing to do with where we are at from a basketball standpoint,” he added.
NBA insider Shams Charania believes that there is a strong chance that Porzingis will feature in Game 4, as mentioned during an appearance on FanDuelTVs Run it Back show.
“There is a chance Kristaps Porzingis plays in Game 4” 👀@ShamsCharania with the latest on Porzingis’ leg injury pic.twitter.com/9Lovww2aJg
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) June 13, 2024
The Latvian came off the bench in Game 1 and Game 2 of the current series and played a key role in both victories, registering 32 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks on 12-of-20 shooting in 43 minutes on the court across two games, with the Celtics being plus-25 with him on the floor.
While he has been impressive offensively, he has also made a significant difference defensively. The Celtics have registered a 1-10 win-loss record in his absence during the playoffs, and given their dominance over the Mavericks this series, they might opt to give the center another game to recover.
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