(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals, as the best-of-seven series shifted to American Airlines Center in Texas, the Boston Celtics received what was perceived at the time to be potentially devastating news, with veteran forward Kristaps Porzingis suffering another injury in the postseason.
Apparently, Porzingis suffered a rare kind of foot injury in Game 2, which put his playing status in doubt for Game 3 in Dallas on Wednesday night.
Many believed that this injury could open the door for the Dallas Mavericks to get back into this series after falling to a 0-2 deficit, dropping the first two games at TD Garden in Boston.
Although the Celtics played fine during Porzingis’ absence throughout most of the NBA playoffs thus far, the team wanted to be at full strength and take no chances against a resilient Mavericks squad led by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who have defied the odds in each round they have played leading up to the Finals.
Fortunately for Boston, the Celtics were able to secure a win in Dallas yesterday, putting the Mavericks in a tough spot moving forward, which no NBA team in history has been able to come back from.
Even though it seems inevitable that Boston will be crowned NBA champions for a league-record 18th time, the team may have to do it without Porzingis moving forward, according to head coach Joe Mazzulla via Jay King of The Athletic.
“Joe Mazzulla said Kristaps Porzingis got better from yesterday to today and is fighting hard to play in Game 4,” King tweeted.
Joe Mazzulla said Kristaps Porzingis got better from yesterday to today and is fighting hard to play in Game 4.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) June 13, 2024
At this point, the Celtics seem in a good position to win it all with or without Porzingis, which likely means it would be a smart move to rest him for Game 4 even if he can play.
There’s no point risking further injury with the team up 3-0 in the series and on the verge of lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, even if the team is forced to Game 5 in Boston on Friday.
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