Mazzulla gives latest update on Porzingis’ status for Game 4 originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics have a chance to win their 18th championship in Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals on Friday night in Dallas, and one of the biggest question marks heading into this matchup is the status of center Kristaps Porzingis.
Porzingis suffered a rare left leg injury in the third quarter of Game 2 against the Mavericks last Sunday. He lost game 3but his status for Game 4 remains uncertain.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters Friday that Porzingis will test his leg before the game and then the team will decide whether he will play.
“Yesterday was just a step by step. He looked fine,” Mazzulla said. “We’ll see how he is today. (He) will test before the game to see how he feels. And then the medical team will make a decision.”
UPDATE (7:15 p.m. ET): Porzingis is available to play in Friday’s Game 4 but will only be used “as necessary”, Mazzulla said in his pre-game press conference.
“It’s not there yet, but we’ll make it available”
Joe Mazzulla says they will only use Kristaps Porzingis in “very specific cases” tonight pic.twitter.com/ntdnoE4zWz
– Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 14, 2024
The Celtics are 10-1 without Porzingis in the lineup during the playoffs. That said, they are undoubtedly a better team when he is available, and Games 1 and 2 of the series served as convincing proof. The Celtics outscored the Mavs by 25 points in the 44 minutes Porzingis played in the first two games in Boston.
Mazzulla relied largely on Al Horford and Xavier Tillman Sr. will play center in Game 3 when Porzingis was unavailable. If Porzingis doesn’t play in Game 4, we should expect Horford and Tillman to play a key role once again.
