Kristaps Porzingis, a key player for the Boston Celtics, came back strong after a rare lower leg injury in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. He got his first championship ring as a result of his hard work. Nevertheless, Porzingis has not fully recovered yet. The Celtics revealed on Tuesday that he will have surgery soon to fix a torn retinaculum and a dislocated posterior tibialis sustained in Game 2 of the Finals. Previous reports suggested that it would take him months to recover.
Surgery and Recovery
The Celtics announced that Porzingis will not represent Latvia in the upcoming Olympic qualification tournament, nor will he be available for selection if Latvia qualifies for Paris. This news was a disappointment for both Porzingis and his supporters. Even with his injury, Porzingis showed his strong commitment and perseverance. He said that he had put in a considerable amount of work and also faced personal pain while celebrating in the locker room after winning the championship. “I believe today was the peak of that.” Although my leg is not in great condition, I still put forth my best effort for the team, resulting in us becoming world champions.
Performance and Impact
Prior to Game 5, Coach Mazzulla of the Celtics mentioned that Porzingis had made more progress in his recovery compared to after Game 4. During Game 5, Porzingis came off the bench and played for 16 minutes, scoring five points and grabbing one rebound. Although his performance was restricted, he still managed to score a +5 on the box score, demonstrating his beneficial influence on the game. Porzingis performed exceptionally well in the initial two matches, with an average of 16 points, five rebounds, and 2.5 blocks. The Celtics’ ability to use their preferred five-out style, with him on the court, made it difficult for the Mavericks on defense.
Early Series Contributions
Porzingis was absent for the majority of the Eastern Conference playoffs due to a calf strain he suffered in Game 4 of the first-round series against the Miami Heat. He came back for the first game of the Finals but suffered another injury in the second game, tearing his medial retinaculum and dislocating the posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg. Even with his injuries, Kristaps Porzingis initial support assisted the Celtics in obtaining a 3-0 advantage. Following a defeat in Game 4, they recovered to clinch their first championship victory since 2008 and the 18th in the team’s history.
Comments