Kristaps Porzingis officially available for Game 4 of NBA Finals
Kristaps Porziņģis clearly wants to be on the court for a potential closeout game in the NBA Finals.
(UPDATE: The Celtics officially announced that Porzingis is “available” for Game 4 of the NBA Finals. We’ll see how much he actually plays.)
The Boston Celtics big man continues to work his way through a complicated injury in the area of his left foot, as the team gets ready to go for the sweep in Game 4 against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Top NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski said before Game 3 that there’s “real doubt” about Porzingis’ availability for the rest of the series, but it sure sounds like Boston’s top center option is going to make a real push to play Game 4.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla continues to stress that Porzingis’ health is being placed above all other factors, as badly as he might want to take the floor one more time.
“Kristaps has gotten better from yesterday to today. He’s fighting like hell to play,” Mazzulla said after practice on Thursday. “But it’s going to be up to us to protect him and to make sure that it’s in the best interest for him as a player and as a person. Going into what’s best for a player and a person has nothing to do with where we’re at from a basketball standpoint.”
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 06: Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in Game One of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 06, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
According to Brian Robb at MassLive, Porzingis was present for the team’s morning shootaround Friday, and Mazzulla said after practice that he’ll test the injury before the game then the Celtics’ medical team will make a final decision.
Porzingis, frankly, may want to put the game of basketball above his own health, considering the C’s have a chance to close out the Mavs and hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy as NBA champions in Dallas on Friday night. It would certainly be a bummer for Porzingis if he’s unable to contribute to the clinching win.
MORE: Scott Foster officiating Game 4 of NBA Finals
Porzingis did come up big in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, scoring 20 points in 21 minutes while delivering lockdown rim protection at the defensive end. So, even if he’s unable to play in Game 4 and beyond, his injury during the series wouldn’t be a total loss.
The Celtics and Mavericks tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET at American Airlines Center.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
Celtics take commanding 3-0 NBA Finals lead over Mavericks after 106-99 win in Game 3
DALLAS, TEXAS – JUNE 12: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball while being guarded by Tim Hardaway Jr. #10 of the Dallas Mavericks in the second quarter in Game Three of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center on June 12, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
Fourth Quarter:
Jaylen Brown would continue his unbelievable play from the third quarter, drawing an offensive foul and then hitting a 3 pointer to extend Boston’s lead to 88-70. That wasn’t enough for Boston though after another staunch defensive stand Derrick White would hit a 3 of his own to give Boston a 21 point lead 91-70 with 11:06 to go.
With Boston on the brink of a 3-0 series lead Dallas would need it’s best basketball of the season to have any hope of not heading into Friday night’s game on the brink of elimination. Dallas would start to chip away at Boston’s lead with some massive defensive stops and big 3 point shooting from Washington and Green to cut Boston’s lead to 91-80 with 8:23 to go in the game. Jaylen Brown would answer the Dallas run scoring a tough jumper to give Boston a 93-82 lead with 7:45 to go and Dallas clawing it’s way back into the game. PJ Washington would hit a 3 pointer to cap off a 17-2 Dallas run cutting Boston’s lead to just six.
Holiday would foul Kyrie Irving on a 3 point attempt to give Dallas a chance to cut it to a one possession game with 6:21 to go in the game and Boston now clinging to it’s lead. Boston would continue to melt down turning it over on the next possession and getting lucky that Dallas would miss a 3 pointer to tie. Luka would get his 5th foul of the game with 4:38 to go a troubling sign for Mavericks fans with Boston still holding a 93-90 lead. Boston would make a point to attack Luka Doncic on the very next possession and he would foul Jaylen Brown, sending him out of game 3 with his team trailing by 3 on the brink of a 3-0 series deficit. Jason Kidd would challenge the call in an act of desperation but it was to no avail as the challenge was unsuccessful and Luka was out of the game with 4:12 to go.
With Luka out now Boston would heavily defend Kyrie Irving and hope they could contain the Mavericks role players and secure a 3-0 series lead. Tatum would miss another big shot but Jaylen Brown would clean it up and score off an offensive rebound to give the Celtics a 95-92 lead. Jrue Holiday would step up huge again for Boston as he’s done all postseason long drawing an offensive foul on the next possession to give Boston the ball back leading by 3. Boston who had been maligned in the clutch in recent years would continue to make plays with Derrick White who started the game ice cold hitting a massive 3 pointer to extend the Boston lead to 98-92 with just over 2:30 to go in the game.
Boston would take a 4 point lead into the final 2 minutes of the game, the Celtics would miss a 3 pointer and give Dallas a chance to cut it to a one possession game again and they would with a Derrick Lively dunk to make it 100-98 with 1:20 to go in the game. Jaylen Brown who was far and away Boston’s best player in the second half would hit a massive shot to extend Boston’s lead to four, 102-98 a minute to go in the game. Kyrie Irving would go on to miss a massive 3 point shot that would have cut Boston’s lead to one and Derrick White would get fouled on the rebound attempt to all but assure the victory and 3-0 series lead for the Celtics. White would go on to hit both free throws to extend the Celtics lead to six with 22 seconds to go and the Mavericks season hanging on by a thread. Dallas wouldn’t be able to get it any closer as Boston would go on to win 106-99 taking a commanding 3-0 series lead on the brink of banner 18.
