Boston Celtics star Kristaps Porzingis will miss Wednesday night’s Game 3.
Per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, head coach Joe Mazzulla said the team’s medical staff ruled out Porzingis after going through pre-game tests. The Celtics center, who missed most of the postseason with a calf strain, suffered an unrelated leg injury during Sunday’s NBA Finals victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Mazzulla and Porzingis both said Tuesday that the doctors would make the final call, which happened Wednesday.
ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski said on NBA Countdown that Porzingis wanted to play, but the medical team overruled him. Furthermore, Woj reported “real doubt” that Porzingis will return during the Finals.
Porzingis told reporters Tuesday that he’d “do everything I can” to play. He was optimistic he could compete but acknowledged that Boston’s staff would make the final call.
After missing all of the Eastern Conference semifinals and finals, Porzingis returned to score 20 points in 21 minutes of a Game 1 victory. The 7-foot-2 center also made an instant defensive impact with three blocks in the 107-89 win.
Porzingis registered 12 points, four rebounds, and two blocks on Sunday before exiting with a left posterior tibialis dislocation. The Celtics labeled day-to-day and questionable for Wednesday’s matchup at Dallas.
“It’s just a tough moment right now, but I feel pretty good,” Porzingis said on Tuesday. “Mind is good. We’ll see tomorrow.”
Boston will look to gain an imposing 3-0 lead without Porzingis on Wednesday night. Game 3 tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Related: Kristaps Porzingis Sends Clear Message For Game 3 After Injury Diagnosis