NBA Player News

The Celtics announced Tuesday that Porzingis suffered a torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg during the third quarter of Boston's 105-98 win over Dallas in the NBA Finals on Sunday, Marc D'Amico of the team's official site reports. Porzingis is considered day-to-day ahead of Wednesday's Game 3.

The injury Porzingis suffered in Game 2 is unrelated to the calf strain that kept him out for 10 straight postseason games before he returned for the opening game of the NBA Finals. However, his availability for Game 3 is still in doubt. The Celtics will release their official injury report later Tuesday, when further clarity on Porzingis' status will be provided. Porzingis scored 20 points (8-13 FG) in 21 minutes during his return from the 10-game absence in Game 1, and he continued to excel in Game 2 before being taken out, posting 12 points (4-7 FG), four rebounds and two blocks in 23 minutes.

Lively registered two points (1-3 FG) and seven rebounds across 19 minutes during Sunday's 105-98 loss to the Celtics in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Through two Finals games, Lively has totaled just four points, 12 rebounds, one assist and one steal with no blocks and four turnovers. Dallas has tried more Maxi Kleber minutes to combat the Celtics' floor spacing, but the results have been less than stellar. Game 3 will be on the Mavericks' home floor, where Lively is averaging 9.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 blocks in the postseason.

Horford contributed five points (2-4 FG, 1-3 3Pt), seven rebounds, two assists and one steal across 28 minutes during Sunday's 105-98 win over Dallas in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Horford scored only five points -- his fewest since Game 3 against the Cavaliers -- but it was enough to get the job done against the Mavericks. Though his scoring can be inconsistent, the veteran has grabbed at least five rebounds in nine straight games and recorded at least one defensive stat in eight consecutive games. Now he and the Celtics go on the road for Game 3, with Horford averaging 9.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in road postseason games this season.

Gafford amassed 13 points (6-9 FG, 1-4 FT), nine rebounds and one block across 23 minutes during Sunday's 105-98 loss to the Celtics in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Gafford was efficient from the field and finished just one rebound shy of a double-double, but he had problems dealing with Kristaps Porzingis once again. The fact that the Celtics' big men can play on the perimeter has limited Gafford's defensive influence. Gafford has now posted at least eight rebounds in three of his last four playoff appearances.

Coach Joe Mazzulla said after Sunday's win over the Mavericks that he isn't concerned about Porzingis' calf heading into Wednesday's Game 3, Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com reports.

Porzingis logged 12 points (4-7 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 4-4 FT), four rebounds, two blocks and an assist in 23 minutes during Sunday's victory, but he exited the matchup with 4:40 remaining and didn't return. He appeared to be getting his calf looked at on the team's bench area, but the issue isn't expected to be a concern as the NBA Finals roll on.

Porzingis will come off the bench in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday versus the Mavericks, Malika Andrews of ESPN.com reports.

Porzingis returned for Game 1 of the NBA Finals after suffering a right soleus strain in Game 4 of the Celtics' opening-round series against the Heat. The 28-year-old left his mark off the bench in Game 1, putting up 20 points, six rebounds and three blocks across 21 minutes in a blowout victory. Al Horford will retain his role in the starting lineup, though his minutes will likely decrease, as Porzingis' role is expected to grow as the Celtics look to take Game 2 at home.

Horford totaled 10 points (4-8 FG, 2-5 3Pt), seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks over 30 minutes during Thursday's 107-89 victory over the Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

With the benches emptying near the end of the fourth quarter and Kristaps Porzingis making his return, Boston needed just 30 minutes out of Horford. In the seven games leading up to Thursday, Horford had averaged 34.6 minutes with only one day of rest between in-series games. Now, the Celtics and Mavericks don't face off again until Sunday, and then Wednesday. That gives the 38-year-old more rest than he's been used to lately, which could help him stay more effective when he's needed the most.

Porzingis closed with 20 points (8-13 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six rebounds and three blocks across 21 minutes during Thursday's 107-89 victory over the Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla wanted Porzingis to come off the bench in the first game of the Finals, and the star power forward responded admirably in his first taste of competitive action since April 29. It remains to be seen if Porzingis will move to the starting unit for Game 2 on Sunday or if he'll again come off the bench, but either way, his shooting ability and length on defense could be majors factors in the series, as was the case Thursday.

Porzingis will come off the bench in Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Mavericks on Thursday.

Head coach Joe Mazulla said that Porzingis wasn't going to have any minutes restriction in Game 1, but the team opted to play it safe with his conditioning level, and he'll come off the bench. That decision makes sense given that Porzingis hasn't played since logging 14 minutes in the 102-88 win over the Heat on April 29 in Game 4 of the first-round series. For Game 1 of the Finals, Al Horford will remain in the starting lineup, though he's still expected to experience a downgrade in his minutes as Porzingis sees action off the bench.

Coach Joe Mazulla said that Porzingis will not have any minutes restrictions in Game 1 versus the Mavericks on Thursday, Steven Bulpett of the Boston Herald reports.

Mazulla added that he hasn't yet decided if KP will start, but it sounds like Porzingis will be a full-go for Game 1 of the Finals. His return will result in fewer minutes for Xavier Tillman and Al Horford.