Rare injury leaves Porzingis questionable for Game 3

On the eve of Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis wanted to make one message perfectly clear.

The Celtics have listed Porzingis as questionable for Game 3 with what they term as a “rare injury’ described as a torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg. But unless something totally out of the ordinary occurs before the next game in this best-of-seven series against the Dallas Mavericks, Porzingis plans to be on the court Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. when Game 3 tips off at American Airlines Center.

Injured in the second half Sunday of Game 2, Porzingis said after that 105-98 victory that he would die on the court if it came to him playing in Game 3.

When asked prior to Tuesday’s practice if those words still apply, Porzingis said: “Yeah, I’m living by those words. Of course.”

You literally would die on the court, Porzingis was asked? “I mean, I hope not,” he said. “But if it comes to that to win, yes.”

Recalling the play in question when he was injured, Porzingis said it was an interaction with Mavs center Dereck Lively II.

“I was going for a rebound at the free throw line,” he said. “Just kind of (got) pushed in (to) Lively’s back and we bumped knees and something happened. I just kept playing for a while after that. Obviously, towards the end my movement was affected a bit.

“It’s kind of a random situation. I felt something, and now I have to deal with it. As we said, yeah, it’s going to be day-to-day and I’ll see how I am tomorrow. Obviously, I’m going to do everything I can to be out there.”

If Porzingis does play in Game 3 — the Celtics lead the series, 2-0 — it’ll be his first time playing inside AAC since the Mavs traded him to the Washington Wizards on Feb. 10, 2022. Due to an ankle injury, Porzingis didn’t play for the Wizards on Jan. 24, 2023 when they came to AAC to play the Mavs.

And after Washington traded him to Boston last year, Porzingis also missed the Celtics’ lone appearance in Dallas this season on Jan. 22 with right knee inflammation.

Porzingis joked that “some black magic” may be the reason he’s yet to play a game in AAC as a former member of the Mavs.

“The first time I came back I was not playing that game,” he said. “I was with Washington, and I had a warm welcome here. They even did a tribute video, which was very unexpected for me, but that was very nice.

“I think the organization, the people on the inside appreciated my time here, and that was very nice. Obviously, I have completely no bad feeling about this place. I love this city, love the fans, and it just didn’t work out. I definitely don’t expect a comeback like I had in New York. But we’ll see tomorrow.”

Asked if he believes he’ll get treated like former Celtic and current Mavs guard Kyrie Irving got treated during Games 1 and 2 in Boston – when Irving was booed every time he touched the ball, in addition to crowd harassing him with some unpleasant words – Porzingis added that he would be surprised if he received that type of treatment in AAC.

“But who knows?,” Porzingis rhetorically asked. “This is the Finals. Maybe I’ll get booed just so they want to affect me.”

After sitting out since April 29 with a strained right calf, Porzingis definitely had an impact in Game 1. When he entered that contest with 7:17 remaining in the first quarter, the complexion of the game, the momentum of that contest and everything else totally shifted in the Celtics’ favor.

Porzingis scored 11 of his 20 points in the first quarter, which ended with Boston ahead, 37-20. He also ended up shooting 8-of-13 from the field – he was 2-of-4 from three-point land – and added six rebounds and three blocks in just 21 eventful minutes during Boston’s 107-89 victory.

And in the Celtics’ win in Game 2, Porzingis played 23 impactful minutes, scored 12 points, grabbed four rebounds, blocked two shots and was 4-of-7 from the field. The Celtics just hope he’ll be able to go in Game 3.

“He’s doing anything and everything he can to be ready for the game tomorrow,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “It’s a serious injury.

“At the end of the day, our team and the medical team is not going to put him in any bad situations.”

Mazzulla noted that he has no idea if Porzingis will play Wednesday.

“We’ve taken the decision to play out of his hands because the importance of him,” he said. “He’s going to do everything can he to play.

“We’re going to leave it up to our medical team. That’s really it.”

Celtics guard Jrue Holiday acknowledged that he’s behind whatever decision comes with whether or not Porzingis plays in Game 3.

“But he’s a tough guy,” Holiday said. “Obviously, whatever decision he makes, I’m supportive of it. But that’s mostly up to him.

“KP always has a great attitude. That’s something you don’t have to worry about. He’s just like this joy and this light. Anytime he walks into a room, no matter what’s going on, he brings that every time.”

While the Celtics racked up an impressive 12-2 record in this year’s playoffs, mostly without Porzingis, it remains to be seen if they can win two more games against the Mavs if the player affectionately known as The Unicorn is sidelined for the rest of this series.

“We’re just so much of a better team when we have him,” Celtics forward Jayson Tatum said. “He’s as talented as they come. (He) presents so many matchup problems on the offensive end. Then on the defensive end, (he’s) somebody that can affect shots (and) protect the rim as well as he does.

“So yes, we’ve had success and found ways to win without him. Obviously, we’re better when he’s out there playing with us.”

A svelte 7-2, 240-pounder from Latvia, Porzingis has endured a plethora of injuries since the New York Knicks made him the No. 4 overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft. And shortly after he made the All-Star team in 2019, the Knicks traded him to the Mavs on Jan. 31, 2019 – while he was recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury.

“I’ve been through some stuff in my career, and obviously this is a rough patch coming back and having something happen right away again,” Porzingis said. “It’s tough. Just a tough moment right now. But I’m feeling pretty good. (My) mind is good. We’ll see tomorrow.”

X: @DwainPrice