"Is Kristaps Porzingis' Determination to Play Game 3 Risking Further Injury?"

The Boston Celtics could potentially be missing Kristaps Porzingis in Game 3 of the NBA Finals due to an injury in his left leg. The team revealed on Tuesday that Porzingis has a torn medial retinaculum, causing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon. His status is currently day-to-day, raising questions about his availability for Game 3. Coach Joe Mazzulla referred to Porzingis' injury as serious during a media briefing on Tuesday. When asked about Porzingis' chances of playing in Game 3, the coach replied, "I cannot say for certain."

"He's doing anything and everything he can to be ready for the game tomorrow," Mazzulla said. "It's a serious injury, and at the end of the day, the medical team is not going to put him in any bad situations. We've taken the decision to play out of his hands, because of the importance of him. So he's going to do everything he can to play, and then we're going to leave it up to our medical team."

The Celtics have reported that Porzingis sustained the injury with 3:27 left in the third quarter, clarifying that it is not related to his previous calf injury in the right leg that caused him to miss most of the playoffs. During Game 2, Porzingis seemed to have strained his right calf towards the end of the fourth quarter while battling for a rebound with PJ Washington. He stumbled and fell awkwardly, then jogged back with an unusual gait. Despite staying in the game for a few more plays, he eventually left the court. Porzingis did not re-enter the game and was seen stretching his right leg. Following the game, Porzingis mentioned that he was not concerned about the fall, and Mazzulla expressed no worries about the Celtics' big man. However, it now appears that he has sustained a different injury that the team should be concerned about.

Despite the recent announcement, Porzingis expressed his optimism regarding his participation in Game 3, as he informed the reporters.

"It's kind of a random situation, and yeah, I felt something and now I have to deal with it," Porzingis said. "As we said, it's going to be day-to-day, and see how I am tomorrow, and I just feel I'm going to do everything I can to be out there tomorrow." When asked if he was optimistic about playing in Game 3, Porzingis said, "I am, of course, I have to be. I'm optimistic, as I said, I will do everything I can to be out there tomorrow. We'll see."

Porzingis was seen walking with a brace after addressing the media, thus leaving the extent of his injury uncertain. However, if he is unable to participate or his performance is hindered, it will undoubtedly have an impact on the Celtics' game plan. Porzingis' ability to protect the rim has been instrumental in neutralizing Dallas' lob threats, and he has already accumulated five blocks in just two games. His exceptional defense both on the perimeter and in the paint has posed a significant challenge for the Mavericks, who currently lack a viable solution to counter him.

Porzingis has been a key contributor off the bench in the first two games of the Finals, showcasing remarkable efficiency with 20 points in Game 1 and 12 points in Game 2. His presence on the court significantly impacts the floor spacing, posing challenges for Dallas' defense. While the Celtics have managed well without him on their journey to the Finals, his absence could potentially provide an opportunity for the Mavericks to narrow the gap created by Boston. For extensive NBA coverage, tune in to the Beyond the Arc podcast where John Gonzalez, Bill Reiter, Ashley Nicole Moss, and special guests analyze the league's top storylines daily.