After a starring role for the Celtics in Game 1, Kristaps Porziņģis appeared to shake things up during Boston’s Game 2 victory Sunday over the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.
Porziņģis briefly left the bench to go to the locker room and moved cautiously during his time on the court in the second half of his 12-point, four-rebound effort. He acknowledged after the game that something was wrong and that will likely undergo imaging on Monday.
He didn’t say exactly what was ailing him when asked about it after the game.
Porzingis did not specifically reveal what the injury was, but said it was not related to his previous soleus strain. He just said that he felt something and then felt a little limited. He also added that he would have died and that he will do everything possible to be ready for G3. pic.twitter.com/eFbH4gbdcB
—Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) June 10, 2024
“Obviously something happened, a little bit,” Porziņģis said. “Have a couple of days again. Trust me, we’ll do everything we can to get back and move right.”
When asked how difficult it was to play despite the injury, he promised in no uncertain terms that he intends to play Game 3 in Dallas on Wednesday.
“It’s not difficult at all,” Porziņģis continued. “I’ll die out there if I have to.”
Porziņģis, 28, is playing in his first NBA Finals in his eighth NBA season. The Celtics now hold a 2-0 series lead over the Mavericks, with whom Porziņģis played for more than a season before being traded to the Washington Wizards midway through the 2021-22 season.
For Porziņģis, playing an impact role on a championship team would help rewrite a mixed NBA legacy. Porziņģis joined the league in 2015 with the New York Knicks along with high expectations as the first prospect of his kind. He has produced statistically (19.7 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game, 1.9 points per game, 37.5% in three-point shooting) and has been part of an All-Star team, but has not been become a superstar nor has he contributed to any significant victories. He now has the opportunity to cross that last blemish off his resume and he seems eager to do so.
Injuries have plagued Porziņģis’ career, and he missed 10 games this postseason with a calf injury suffered in the first round against the Miami Heat. He returned for Game 1 against the Mavericks and produced 20 points, six rebounds, three blocks and two 3-pointers in 21 minutes off the bench. He is determined to play the series.
Of course, injuries don’t work like that. The images will reveal the true story of its availability for Wednesday and beyond. But he seems confident in his status. Like Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, who has “zero concern” about the future of Porziņģis’ status.
“He is good,” Mazulla said after the game.