What happened to Kristaps Porzingis? Latest injury update on Celtics center ahead of Game 3 vs Mavericks

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis has picked up another injury after returning to the lineup for the 2024 NBA Finals. The Latvian big man missed two entire rounds after going down with a calf injury against the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs.

Ahead of Game 3 of the finals against the Dallas Mavericks, the Celtics shared an update regarding their star, announcing he picked up another injury and is now day-to-day against Dallas.

"Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis suffered a torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg at 3:27 of the third quarter of Game 2. The injury is unrelated to Porzingis' prior right calf injury. After consultation with numerous specialists regarding this rare injury, his availability for upcoming games will be determined day-to-day."

This would be a major blow for the Celtics if Porzingis can't play in Dallas. They are up 2-0 after two wins. Porzingis played a notable role in those victories. His absence could become an issue for Boston and an advantage for the Mavs.

Kristaps Porzingis' numbers during the 2024 NBA Finals

After missing the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers series, Kristaps Porzingis returned to the court against the Dallas Mavericks at the start of the 2024 NBA Finals. The Latvian had a big start to the series, posting 20 points against his former team, leading the Celtics to a one-sided win.

So far, Porzingis has averaged 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in two games, becoming a solid performer for the Celtics and a nightmare for the Mavericks' frontcourt.

This is a rare injury, but Porzingis is still hopeful he can make it back on time for Game 3. The day-to-day status gives hope to the player and the team, but the same can be said for the Mavericks.

Joe Mazzulla said there were 'zero concerns' about Kristaps Porzingis after Game 2

Things have changed a lot since Game 2 of the finals when Joe Mazzulla said there were no issues regarding Porzingis.

"Zero. He's good," Mazzulla said when asked about possible concerns about Porzingis' health.

The situation appears to be different now, and the Celtics hope this is only a scare and nothing serious. If they have their whole roster available, the Celtics look unbeatable against the Mavericks, but losing Porzingis could have serious ramifications for the rest of the series.