DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - Dallas Mavericks forward Kristaps Porzingis will not play in Tuesday night's game vs the Grizzlies, but the hope is that he'll be able to return for Wednesday night's game vs the Pelicans, according to coach Rick Carlisle.
Speaking with the media following practice, Carlisle said both Porzingis (knee soreness) and Maxi Kleber (right Achilles soreness) practiced Monday. Carlisle said Kleber could play Tuesday after missing the last four games.
Porzingis hasn't played since he exited the game in Detroit on April 29 after experiencing knee soreness. Prior to that game, he had missed three straight games with a sprained left ankle.
He "has done very well over the last ten days, in terms of significant, gradual progress and so that’s a very good sign," Carlisle said of Porzingis.
Porzingis also spoke with reporters after practice and said his latest rash of injuries has been difficult and he's ready to get back on the floor for the Mavs' final three games.
“It’s hard to be out watching the games without being able to be out there and play the game I love, but it is what it is,” he said. “I have to be healthy when I’m out there. I cannot be not at 100% when I’m out there, so just was putting in a lot of work, which is not fun always when you’re by yourself and just doing treatment and working out, lifting.
“It’s never as fun as being with the team, doing all the activities with the team, but that’s when I have to lock in and be a soldier and do my work to make sure I can be, as soon as possible, practicing like today with the guys and stuff. It’s a good feeling to getting back closer to being able to play, and it’s good the team’s playing well. That’s always good, and I look forward to adding more to what we’re doing right now.”
Porzingis was asked specifically about the soreness he was experiencing in his knee, the same knee he had meniscus surgery on in October, but he declined to get into specifics. However, he said it's possible the soreness could be attributed to the ankle sprain he suffered.
“It’s weird because it started with the ankle,” Porzingis said. “Maybe it’s because you limp a little bit with the ankle and now the knee started bothering me a little bit. I’m not sure. I don’t want to give any medical what I have going on. I’ll leave that to the doctors. I’m just doing my part and make sure I’m healthy and that my legs are strong and I’m ready to go and that’s it. “So yeah, it is what it is. I look forward to this offseason, really, because it’s been a tough year for me.”
Porzingis has missed 28 out of the Mavs 68 games this season due to a variety of injuries.
Despite Kleber and Porzingis' absences, the Mavs have won 10 of their last 12 games to improve their record to 40-28. They are currently one game up on the Portland Trail Blazers for the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference.