Kristaps Porzingis Injury Update: Uncertainty Surrounds Celtics Star's Game 3 Availability
Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis may be heading straight back to the sidelines after a significant injury scare during the NBA Finals. Porzingis suffered a "torn medial retinaculum, allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon" in his left leg. As a result, he is considered "day-to-day" moving forward, casting doubt on his availability for Game 3 on Wednesday night. This new issue is unrelated to the calf strain that kept Porzingis out for over a month during the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Porzingis remains optimistic despite the setback. "I'm going to do everything I can to be out there tomorrow," he said. However, the decision to play in Game 3 will ultimately rest with the Celtics' medical team. "We've taken the decision to play out of his hands because of the importance of him," a team representative stated. The team isn't going to let him take any unnecessary risks.
Understanding the Injury
The medial retinaculum is connective tissue that serves as the roof of the tarsal tunnel (akin to the carpal tunnel but in the foot). It anchors multiple structures in place, including the tendon of the posterior tibialis. If the retinaculum is torn, the tendon can shift out of place (dislocate), causing pain and instability of the ankle and foot. A 2006 study indicated there have only been 32 documented cases of a dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon in the English-speaking world, highlighting the rarity and severity of Porzingis' injury.
Evan Jeffries has created a helpful graphic showing where the medial retinaculum and posterior tibialis tendon are located. Porzingis had a wrap and/or brace on his left ankle while speaking to reporters on Tuesday. He appeared to be moving freely, but walking around is much different than playing in a high-stakes NBA Finals game.
Impact on the Celtics
Porzingis' status up in the air makes his absence a crucial consideration for the Celtics. The team performed well without him earlier in the playoffs, going 9-1 in his absence. However, his return in Games 1 and 2 of this series was a massive boost. Porzingis scored 32 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and blocked five shots on 12-of-20 shooting in just 43 minutes. The Celtics were plus-25 with him on the floor during those games.
Porzingis offers versatility on both ends of the court. Offensively, he can space the floor or exploit mismatches if guarded by a smaller player. Defensively, he's provided some massive rejections and has altered plenty of other shots, making him the team's only true rim protector. His absence would put more pressure on Al Horford and force the Celtics into some interesting lineup decisions.
If Porzingis cannot play, the team could allocate backup big minutes to non-shooting threats like Luke Kornet or Xavier Tillman, allowing the Mavericks' big men to linger around the basket. Alternatively, they could try to play small-ball with Jayson Tatum or Oshae Brissett at the five, though neither option is optimal.
Looking Ahead
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Porzingis' availability, the Celtics still have the upper hand in this series with a 2-0 lead. However, this matchup may have just become more interesting. The Celtics must reconsider their strategy and player rotations moving forward, adding another layer of intrigue to what has already been an electrifying NBA Finals.
Whether Porzingis can defy the odds and step onto the court for Game 3 remains to be seen. The Celtics value his contributions immensely and will ensure any decision to play him is thoroughly vetted by the medical team. "He's going to do everything he can to play, and then we're going to leave it up to our medical team," the representative added.