Kristaps Porzingis will sit out Game 3 of the NBA Finals for the Boston Celtics due to a rare tendon injury in his lower left leg sustained in the previous game.
The Celtics made the announcement approximately two hours before tipoff against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.
Porzingis, 28 years old, had returned for the start of the NBA Finals after missing 10 consecutive playoff games due to a right calf strain. He played a crucial role in helping the Celtics secure a 2-0 series lead against his former team. In Game 1, he contributed 11 points and two blocks in the first quarter, followed by 12 points before getting injured.
The 7-foot-2 Latvian center reported feeling discomfort after colliding knees with Dallas center Dereck Lively II during Sunday night’s game but continued playing. He exited the game in the final minute of the third quarter and played just over three and a half minutes in the fourth.
Porzingis’s injury involves a tear in the tissue that supports tendons, which the Celtics clarified is unrelated to the calf strain he suffered in Game 4 of the first round against Miami on April 29.
Following the announcement of his injury on Tuesday, Porzingis expressed his commitment to undergoing continuous treatment and following medical advice. He acknowledged that he couldn’t persuade medical staff to clear him if he wasn’t fit to play.
Coach Joe Mazzulla emphasized that the decision to sideline Porzingis was made by the team, not the player himself.
Despite his absence in Game 3, Porzingis has yet to play a game in Dallas since being traded by the Mavericks nearly two and a half years ago.
Originally selected as the fourth overall pick by the New York Knicks in 2015, Porzingis became an All-Star before missing the entire 2018-19 season due to a torn ACL. He was traded to Dallas in January 2019 in a multi-player, multi-pick deal. Following subsequent trades involving Washington and Boston, he arrived at the Celtics in a three-team trade last summer.
During his tenure with the Wizards, Porzingis did not play when they visited Dallas in January 2023, despite appearing in 12 of the previous 13 games. Similarly, he was inactive for the Celtics’ game in Dallas this past January, following a standout performance of 32 points, six rebounds, and five blocks in Houston the night before.
