SI

Kristaps Porzingis Found Extreme Way to Make Injury Status Clear After Game 2

Tim Capurso

Jun 9, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) reacts after a play against the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter in game two of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 9, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) reacts after a play against the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter in game two of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports / Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is a warrior.

Porzingis appeared to suffer an injury to his right leg in the fourth quarter during Boston's 105-98 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of the NBA Finals at TD Garden on Sunday night. Porzingis was spotted stretching out his right calf on the bench, and there was concern from Celtics fans, considering the Latvian big man missed over a month of action due to a strain in his right calf.

But Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters after the game that he had "zero concern" about Porzingis's status moving forward—and Porzingis himself found an extreme way to reassure reporters during a postgame session with the media.

When a reporter asked Porzingis how difficult it was to keep playing through the injury, the Celtics center had a great response.

"Not difficult at all, I'll die out there," he said.

Porzingis, who did exit the game and head to the locker room briefly, played 23 minutes, tallying 12 points, four rebounds, a pair of blocks and an assist in Boston's win, which extended his team's series lead to 2-0.

The 7'2" big man is a huge part of that championship pursuit. Fortunately, it seems like Porzingis and the Celtics avoided serious injury on Sunday night.

"I'm feeling good," Porzingis said. "Yeah, I don't think it's anything serious, but we'll look at it tomorrow and go from there. But all good."

The NBA Finals shifts to the American Airlines Center for Game 3, which tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday night.

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Tim Capurso
TIM CAPURSO

Tim Capurso is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Prior to joining SI in November 2023, he wrote for RotoBaller and ClutchPoints, where he was the lead editor for MLB, college football and NFL coverage. A lifelong Yankees and Giants fan, Capurso grew up just outside New York City and now lives near Philadelphia. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with his family, including his three-legged cat Willow, who, unfortunately, is an Eagles fan.

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