Following the Celtics’ Game 2 victory over the Mavericks, Kristaps Porzingis was adamant about being available for his team at all costs.
“I’ll die out there if we need,” Porzingis said.
That won't happen, as Porzingis has officially been ruled out for Wednesday night's Game 3 in Dallas.
During the third quarter of Game 2, Porzingis sustained a torn medial retinaculum, which dislocated the posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg. A 2006 study reported that there were just 32 documented cases of a dislocated posterior tibial tendon in the English literature, which cast doubt on his availability for Game 3.
“It’s a serious injury. At the end of the day, our team and the medical team is not going to put him in any bad situations,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said. “We’ve taken the decision to play out of his hands because the importance of him. He’s going to do everything can he to play. We’re going to leave it up to our medical team. That’s really it.”
Although Porzingis was not on the floor for the portion of Tuesday’s practice available to the media, the big man was seen walking around the arena without a limp, with just a wrap around his ankle and no additional support.
“I’m optimistic, and as I said, I will do everything I can to be out there tomorrow,” Porzingis said.” I’ll leave it in the medical staff’s hands to determine whether I can go or not. But from my side, as I said, nothing is going to stop me unless I’m told I’m not allowed to play. That’s the only reason I would not be out there.”
The Celtics have been in this situation before. Porzingis has missed 10 games this postseason, with the Celtics posting a 9-1 record in those contests. According to Mazzulla, he will remain day-to-day.
“Day to day,” Mazzulla said when asked if the injury would keep him out beyond Game 3. “Just the medical team and the staff just decided that it wasn’t what’s best for him to go tonight. Just be a day-to-day thing to see how he is tomorrow and the next day.”
The big man has averaged 16.0 points on 12-of-20 (60%) shooting, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks off the bench through two games this series. The Celtics are a plus-25 with Porzingis on the floor and a plus-2 without him. His plus-23 point differential trails only Jrue Holiday (+27) and Jayson Tatum (+23) for the team-high.
It's worth noting there is only day off in between Games 3 and 4.
“It’s tough. I’ve appreciated just his approach,” Mazzulla added. “Throughout the whole Playoffs, like I said, he’s never missed any meeting, he’s always been out there, done everything he can to play. Sometimes it’s an unfortunate situation. It’s nothing that he can do.
Definitely feel for him, but appreciate kind of where he’s at. I trust that he’ll do everything he can to get ready for the next game.”
Porzingis is the lone inactive for the Celtics. The Mavericks are fully healthy, as Luka Doncic (thoracic contusion) will be playing.
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