The Celtics secured a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals after defeating the Mavericks 105-98 on Sunday, but there was a scare with Kristaps Porzingis late in the game.
Porzingis reassured everyone that his right leg was hurt this time, not his left calf. “I feel good, I don’t think it’s anything serious, but we’ll look at it tomorrow and go from there,” he said.
Porzingis’ Performance
In the game, Porzingis scored 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting, grabbed 4 rebounds, and blocked 2 shots. He mentioned needing some imaging done on his leg just to be sure everything was fine.
“I’ll be good… I’ll die out there,” he emphasized about not missing Game 3.
"I'll be good… I'll die out there"
Kristaps Porzingis gives us an injury update and says he will not miss Game 3
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics)
His coach also dismissed any concerns about him missing future games. “Zero, he’s good,” he stated confidently. Porzingis echoed this sentiment: “Not difficult at all, I’ll die out there if we need.”
Game Contributions
In Game 1 of the series, Porzingis came off the bench to score 20 points with added contributions of 6 rebounds and 3 blocks. He felt validated by his performance saying, “Tonight was affirmation to myself that I’m pretty good… The adrenaline was pumping through my veins.”
Jrue Holiday also played a crucial role in their Game 2 victory with his elite defense. “Sometimes when I drive and get stuck… I need somebody to drift with me or be in space,” Holiday explained.
I think teamwork really makes a difference here.
Coach Mazzulla’s Frustration
Coach Joe Mazzulla expressed frustration over constant debates about who is Boston’s star player. He stressed that their success comes from team effort rather than individual prowess. “Everybody that stepped on that court made winning plays on both ends of the floor,” Mazzulla said postgame.
The next games are scheduled for Wednesday and Friday in Dallas. Boston has been undefeated on the road during these playoffs so far and aims to continue this streak.
“Coming into a game is like solving a puzzle,” Mazzulla commented about their strategy against Dallas’ defense.
