Kristaps Porzingis’ return to the Celtics line-up added another dynamic to the Boston side in game 1 of the NBA Finals. After his heroics in the series opener, Porzingis continued to dominate the Mavs, but his second-half injury invited some clouds of worry above the Cs camp.
During the second half of the game, Porzingis left the court after feeling discomfort. But after the game, the Latvian seemed highly determined to feature in the next game. “I’ll die out there if we need,” said the Celtics center in the post-game presser.
Porzingis will undergo further evaluation on Monday to determine the type and seriousness of his injury. But he showed an unwavering determination to participate in game 3 in Dallas.
Following his 20-point performance in game 1, Porzingis added 12 points and four rebounds while playing through his injury. His recent return from the soleus injury casts doubt on his fitness. However, he confirmed that the latest one isn’t related.
His extra motivation to play against the Mavericks can be attributed to his past with the Dallas franchise, as he parted ways with them on a sour note.
Kristaps Porzingis to Return to Dallas After Ugly Split
After being the 4th overall draft pick in 2015 by the Knicks, expectations were sky-high for the center. Injuries tainted his NBA career, though, as the 28-year-old suffered multiple setbacks every season. His move to the Mavs alongside fellow European Luka Doncic was anticipated to be a hit, but it turned out differently.
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His start with the Mavs was impressive, but injuries came to bite back in the second season. Porzingis’s numbers dropped drastically during the postseason, earning him the nickname “Pandemic P.” However, this was previously bestowed upon Paul George due to his playoff woes.
Recently, Chandler Parsons’ remarks on the relationship between Doncic and Porzingis drew further public scrutiny about what went wrong for Kristaps in Dallas before his subsequent move to the Wizards in 2022.
With all the history between Porzingis and the Mavs, the former Sevilla star can expect a reception mirroring that of Kyrie Irving’s in Boston. But with two back-to-back games at the American Airlines Center, Kristaps Porzingis has the golden opportunity to rub it to the Mavs fans by sealing the series in Dallas and walking out as the 2024 NBA champion with the Celtics.
