The Boston Celtics announced that Kristaps Porzingis is out for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Celtics center suffered a "torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg," in Game 2, according to the team. He will remain day-to-day for the rest of the series.
Porzingis told reporters Tuesday that he would "do everything I can to be out there," but cautioned that he would listen to the Celtic's medical staff if they told him he couldn't play.
Porzingis was seen walking into Celtics practice Wednesday and appeared to be moving fine but will now miss his 11th game of the NBA playoffs.
Kristaps Porzingis walks in to #Celtics practice. pic.twitter.com/EEzNJIYbYo
— Dorothy J. Gentry (@DorothyJGentry) June 12, 2024
He came off the bench in the first two games of the NBA Finals playing a total of 44 minutes in Boston. Porzingis had a massive impact on both games, helping the Celtics take a 17-point lead in the first quarter with an 11-point barrage. Through two games, Porzingis was +25 on the floor, tied with Jayson Tatum for the second-best mark on the Celtics.
The Mavericks opened as 1.5-point favorites on Sunday night, but the line moved to -2.5 once news broke that Porzingis would be listed as day-to-day for the rest of the series. With Porzingis officially ruled out, some books have the Mavericks listed as high as -3.5, according to Action Network's betting data.
