Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis addresses rare injury that may sideline him for NBA Finals Game 3

DALLAS — Two nights ago, Kristaps Porzingis had no concerns about playing in Game 3.

Now, his availability is a complete unknown.

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Porzingis is considered “day-to-day” after suffering a tendon dislocation in his left leg late during the third quarter of Boston’s Game 2 win over the Mavericks on Sunday night. He suffered a “torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg”, according to a team press release. Whether Porzingis plays Wednesday in Game 3 is now up to the team’s medical staff, according to the big man and Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla.

“From my side, as I said, nothing’s going to stop me unless I’m told not to or not allowed to play,” Porzingis said Tuesday. “That’s the only reason I (won’t) be out there.”

“He’s doing anything and everything he can to be ready for the game tomorrow,” Mazzulla added. “It’s a serious injury, and at the end of the day, our medical team is not going to put him in any bad situations. We’ve taken the decision to play out of his hands.”

Porzingis told reporters he is optimistic about playing, and that he fought through some pain before sitting for the final 4:40 of Game 2.

“I am. Yeah, I have to be. I’m optimistic. As I said, I will do everything I can to be out there tomorrow,” Porzingis said. “We’ll see.”

In the press release, the Celtics claimed Porzingis’ new injury is unrelated to the right calf strain that sidelined him for the entire second round of the playoffs and the Eastern Conference Finals. Porzingis made a triumphant return in Game 1 of the Finals, scoring 20 points in 21 minutes of a blowout Boston win that capped an extended layoff that cost him more than a month of game action. In Game 2, he played 23 minutes before exiting with a stat line of 12 points, four rebounds and two blocks on 4-of-7 shooting.

Porzingis’ offensive spacing and defensive rim protection have keyed Boston’s early control of this series. Teammates described him as upbeat earlier Tuesday.

If Porzingis cannot play, the Celtics will start Al Horford in his place for a third straight game. Boston may also lean more heavily on its bench, with Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard and perhaps backup center Luke Kornet, whose playing time in the Finals has thus far been limited to three minutes of garbage time.

Game 3 will tip off at 8:30 p.m. in Dallas.

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