On the heels of some of the best basketball of his career, Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porziņģis has hit a roadblock.
Porziņģis has suffered a rare injury to a tendon in his left leg, the Celtics announced Tuesday afternoon. The unusual ailment has rendered him day-to-day with Game 3 of the NBA Finals between Boston and the Dallas Mavericks looming Wednesday.
Per the Celtics, Porziņģis was hurt with 3:27 remaining in the third quarter of Game 2—at which point Boston led the Mavericks 73-63.
The 2018 All-Star was diagnosed with a torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon, per the Celtics. Notably, the tendon dislocation took place in the opposite leg to where Porziņģis suffered the calf injury that kept him out for over a month.
Breaking: Kristaps Porzingis is day-to-day with a tendon dislocation in his left leg. Celtics say it is a rare injury. pic.twitter.com/urgjV6ficb
Addressing reporters Tuesday, Boston coach Joe Mazzulla called the injury “serious.”
Mazzulla on Kristaps: “It’s a serious injury. … We’ve taken the decision to play out of his hands.”
Thanks to Porziņģis—who erupted for 20 points in Game 1 and added 12 in Game 2—the Celtics sit two wins from their first NBA title since 2008.
Here he is talking about the injury on Tuesday:
Porzingis speaks about his injury/availability for Game 3. pic.twitter.com/2tbm5PgZPQ
PATRICK ANDRES
Patrick Andres has been a Staff Writer on the Breaking & Trending News Team at Sports Illustrated since 2022. Before SI, his work appeared in The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword, and Diamond Digest. Patrick has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University.
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