The Boston Celtics will be without Kristaps Porzingis in Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals, and it is unlikely that he will return for the rest of the series. Porzingis sustained a rare left leg injury in Game 2 and was ruled out just before tip-off. The star player was originally listed as questionable with a left posterior tibialis dislocation, but ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported a more pessimistic view, stating that there is real doubt about Porzingis returning at all during the series.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla stated that Porzingis’ injury situation will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis, but it seems that the final decision lies with the team’s medical team. If Porzingis does not return, veteran Al Horford will take on more minutes at center, while Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman will provide support off the bench. In his two games in the Finals, Porzingis averaged 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in just under 22 minutes per game, helping the Celtics secure a 2-0 series lead.
