Kristaps Porzingis is poised to make his much-anticipated return to the court for the Boston Celtics as they prepare to square off against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals this evening. This comes after Porzingis sat out the last two games due to a dislocated tendon in his left ankle, but has now been given the green light to play. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla confirmed this development, stating, “We expect to see him tonight.”
Unlike the previous game, Porzingis will not be under any minutes restriction. Although he was initially cleared to play a limited role in Game 4, he ultimately remained on the sidelines during Boston’s 122-84 loss in Dallas. However, his availability for Game 5 was confirmed after he underwent an on-court workout just hours before tipoff. This workout encompassed shooting, light-contact post work, and lateral movement drills.
It is important to note that the Celtics have clarified that Porzingis’ current tendon issue is unrelated to the calf strain he suffered back in April, which forced him to miss 10 games. Despite these setbacks, Porzingis has proven to be a valuable asset for the team, averaging 13.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in his first six games during this postseason.
During Game 1 against Dallas, Porzingis demonstrated his skill and impact on the court by contributing 20 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots. His return to the lineup for Game 5 is certain to provide a significant boost to the Celtics’ morale as they endeavour to secure the championship title.
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