Celtics’ Porzingis has a rare tendon problem in his lower left leg and is questionable for Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

Dallas (AFP) – Kristaps Porzingis He hasn’t played a game in Dallas since the Mavericks traded him nearly two and a half years ago, and now it’s uncertain whether he’ll play there in Game 3 of the NBA Finals for the Boston Celtics.

Porzingis suffers from a rare tendon injury in his lower left leg, which occurred in the third quarter of 2018 Boston wins 105-98 To lead the series 2-0. The team said Tuesday he will play every day, and Porzingis said he will do everything he can to play Wednesday night.

Asked whether it was a matter of pain tolerance or whether more damage could be done, Porzingis said he did not know the details.

“This is something I will leave in the hands of the medical staff to decide whether I can go or not,” he said. “Nothing will stop me unless I’m told I can’t play, or I’m not allowed to play. That’s the only reason I can’t be there.”

The 7-foot-2 Latvian center suffered a tear in the tissue that holds the tendons in place. The Celtics said the matter was not related to a strain in his right calf that sidelined him for 10 consecutive playoff games before he returned last Thursday for the start of the NBA Finals.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzola called it a “serious injury” and said the team won’t put Porzingis in any bad situations. Porzingis is listed as questionable.

“We made the decision to play him out of control because of his importance,” Mazzola said. “He will do everything he can to play. We will leave it to our medical team. That’s what it really is.”

Porzingis was wearing slides instead of sneakers when he spoke with reporters before practice. He walked with a slight limp and was wearing a black sleeve covering his lower left leg on his day off.

Without going into details, he said that he receives treatment throughout the day and does what the medical staff asks of him. He was not on the field for the open portion of practice.

“I can’t trick them into letting me play,” he said.

Porzingis said he felt something off after his knees collided Sunday night with Dallas center Derek Lively II but continued to play. He left the game in the final minute of the third quarter and only played about 3 1/2 minutes in the fourth quarter.

After the game, Porzingis downplayed any injury concerns, saying he was optimistic and “will die out there if we need to.”

“I live by those words,” he said Tuesday. … I mean I hope it doesn’t happen, but if it comes down to winning, I guess so.

In his return during Game 1, his first career game after the first round, Porzingis started the Celtics with 11 points and two blocks in the first quarter of the season. Win 107-89 While he finished the game with 20 points, three blocks and six rebounds. He scored 12 points in 23 minutes of the second game.

“We’re a much better team when we have him. 7-4 unicorns, right? He’s as talented as they come,” Celtics forward Jayson Tatum said. “Yes, we’ve had success and found ways to win without him. “Obviously we are better when he is in the team and when he plays with us.”

The 28-year-old Porzingis was the fourth overall pick of the New York Knicks in 2015 and was an All-Star before a torn ACL forced him to miss the entire 2018-19 season. They traded him to Dallas in January 2019, in a deal that included seven players and two first-round picks.

Dallas traded Porzingis to Washington on Feb. 10, 2022, and the Wizards sent him to Boston in a three-team trade last summer.

When the Wizards played in Dallas in January 2023, Porzingis was inactive after playing in 12 of the previous 13 games. He also did not play for the Celtics last January, when they visited American Airlines Center the night after he had 32 points, six rebounds and five steals in Houston.

“The first time I came back, I wasn’t playing that game, I was with Washington, and I had a standing ovation here. They even did a tribute video, which was very unexpected for me, but it was very nice,” Porzingis said. “I think the organization and the people inside appreciated the time I had here, which was very nice. …There’s no bad feeling about this place. “I love this city, I love the fans, but it didn’t work out.”

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