Kristaps Porzingis questionable, however "has an opportunity" to play Recreation 4 of NBA Finals – CBS Boston

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By Matt Geagan
Up to date on: June 14, 2024 / 7:26 PM EDT / CBS Boston
BOSTON — Kristaps Porzingis is on the market for the Celtics in Recreation 4 of the NBA Finals. However there is no such thing as a assure that the large man will log any minutes Friday as Boston hopes to shut out the Dallas Mavericks to win the franchise’s 18th championship. 
Porzingis missed Recreation 3 on Wednesday night time with a rare tendon injury, after the Boston medical workers dominated that he wasn’t prepared for a return. However according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Porzingis “has an opportunity” to take the ground Friday night time. 
Simply over an hour earlier than Recreation 4, head coach Joe Mazzulla instructed reporters that whereas Porzingis is on the market, there’s a caveat. 
“He is not fairly there but, however solely obtainable in sure conditions, very particular situations,” Mazzulla mentioned. 
The Celtics made it clear Tuesday that the choice to play or not was not in Porzingis’ fingers. Mazzulla mentioned Thursday that the very fact the Celtics are up 3-0 within the sequence will not play into the medical workers’s choice on Porzingis’ taking part in standing Friday night time.
“Kristaps has gotten higher from yesterday to at this time. He is combating like hell to play, however it may be as much as us to guard him and to make it possible for it is in the most effective curiosity for him as a participant and an individual,” mentioned Mazzulla. “And none of that — going into what’s finest for a participant and an individual has nothing to do with the place we’re at from a basketball standpoint.”    
Porzingis performed within the first two video games of the Finals and helped the Celtics to an 18-point win in Recreation 1, dropping 20 factors off 8-for-13 taking pictures off the bench in opposition to the Mavs. However he was injured within the third quarter of Recreation 2, and did not play the ultimate 5 minutes of that Boston victory. 
Porzingis missed the East semis and the Jap Convention Finals with a calf harm, however the Celtics are 10-1 with out the large man this postseason. Al Horford remained within the beginning rotation upon Porzingis’ return within the NBA Finals, and on Wednesday night time, Xavier Tillman gave the group 11 high quality minutes off the bench with three factors, 4 rebounds, and a pair of blocks. 
Matthew Geagan is a sports activities producer for CBS Boston. He has been a part of the WBZ sports activities group for almost 20 years. He moved over to the online in 2012 and has coated all of the highs (and some lows) in Boston sports activities.
First revealed on June 14, 2024 / 8:35 AM EDT
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