Celtics
The injury is designated as a “left posterior tibialis dislocation.”
The Celtics enter Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday holding a 2-0 series lead, but will be forced to face the Mavericks without one of the team’s most important players.
Kristaps Porzingis, who had only just returned from a month-long spell on the sidelines due to a calf strain, was ruled out by the Celtics shortly before tip-off for Game 3 after suffering a separate injury in Game 2.
Designated as a “left posterior tibialis dislocation,” the injury — suffered in Game 2’s third quarter during a collision with Mavericks center Dereck Lively II while trying to box out for a rebound — was deemed “serious” by Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla when he spoke to reporters on Tuesday. According to ESPN reporter Tim Bontemps, Porzingis will remain listed as “day-to-day.”
Bontemps also added that, via Mazzulla, “the medical team watched Porzingis go through some testing and it was decided he wasn’t good enough to play in this game.”
Porzingis’s presence was decisive in the 107-89 Game 1 win, as he contributed 20 points in 21 minutes, totaling three blocks and six rebounds as well.
Prior to that, the 28-year-old Latvian missed over a month during Boston’s playoff run due to a “right soleus strain” sustained in Game 4 of their first-round series against the Heat. The Celtics managed to continue advancing without him, sweeping the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Still, his loss will be felt against Dallas. Adding him in the offseason via a trade with the Wizards added a dimension to the Celtics’ offense that helped Boston tally the best regular season record in the NBA at 64-18.
Newsletter Signup
Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.com