Kristaps Porzingis is available for the Boston Celtics in Friday night’s Game 4 of the NBA Finals, but will “only be used in specific instances, if necessary,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said.
Porzingis, who is officially listed as questionable, sat out the Celtics’ Game 3 victory over the Dallas Mavericks because of a lower left leg injury he suffered in the third quarter of Game 2.
Boston moved within a victory of an 18th championship without Porzingis, beating Dallas 106-99 on Wednesday for a 3-0 series lead. The Celtics are poised to break a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most NBA titles.
The 7-foot-2 Latvian has a dislocated tendon in his left leg, caused by a tear of the tissue that holds tendons in place. The team has called the injury rare, and Mazzulla labeled it “serious.”
Porzingis played the first two games of the NBA Finals, with a crucial role in the Game 1 win, after missing the previous 10 playoff games with a strained right calf.
Al Horford has started all three Finals games for the Celtics, including the two when Porzingis played.