The Boston Celtics enter Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night looking to take a commanding 3-0 series lead against the Dallas Mavericks. But to achieve that goal, they not only need to win on the road, they need to do it without Kristaps Porzingis.
Porzingis was sidelined for Game 3 after suffering what the team described as a “unique injury” in Game 2. The team initially described Porzingis’ injury as “day-to-day evolving” and described it as a “torn medial retinaculum with a dislocated posterior tibial tendon” in his left leg.
Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla said Tuesday he would leave the decision to the medical staff. ESPN According to writer Tim Bontemps, medical staff evaluated Porzingis ahead of Game 3 on Wednesday but did not feel he was ready to play.
Mazzulla said the medical team looked at Porzingis’ test results and determined he was not fit enough to play in the game. Mazzulla said yesterday that the decision would be up to the medical team, not Porzingis. https://t.co/q4fS041H4S
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) June 12, 2024
As Bontemps noted, Mazzulla reiterated that Porzingis’ condition “is changing day-to-day” after he was ruled out for Game 3.
