The Boston Celtics announced Tuesday that center Kristaps Porziņģis has been listed as ‘day-to-day’ due to a left leg injury, clarifying that this is a new and “rare” injury and separate from the right calf strain that caused him to miss the majority of the 2024 NBA playoffs.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Porziņģis is “determined and expects to continue to try and play with this tendon injury in the Finals … there’s no indication he’ll be ruled out and not permitted to try in Game 3.” Porziņģis missed 10 consecutive games earlier this postseason because of a right calf strain; he suffered this latest injury in the third quarter of Boston’s Game 2 victory Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks.

However, despite the Celtics’ announcement that leaves open the possibility for Porziņģis to return at some point during the NBA Finals, head coach Joe Mazzulla painted a different picture, telling reporters that Porziņģis has a “serious injury.”

Porziņģis’ appeared to aggravate his calf problem in Boston’s 105-98 Game 2 victory, playing just 23 minutes and finishing with 12 points and four rebounds before leaving with 4:40 on the clock in the fourth quarter without returning  After the game, he told reporters: “I feel good .. Feeling good. I don’t think it’s anything serious. But we’ll look at it tomorrow and go from there. But all good. I’ll be good.”

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