Whether or if Kristaps Porzingis plays for the Boston Celtics may make a difference not just in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals, but also in how the series continues. Porzingis had a left posterior tibialis dislocation in Game 2 of this series, which is a rare injury with no known recovery timeframe. If this had been the regular season, Porzingis would have most certainly been gone for a few weeks. But the truth is that he has been moving about and wants to do everything he can to be on the floor in the NBA Finals for the Celtics.This has prompted the question: Will Kristaps Porzingis play Game 5 at home on Monday nigh. Although he was listed as “active” for Game 4 in Dallas, a potential NBA Finals closeout, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla stated that the star big man would only be used for situational purposes. There was no clarification given as to what this meant, and Porzingis ended up sitting on the bench for the rest of Boston’s 122-84 defeat in Dallas.
After winning their first game in this championship series, the Mavericks gained some confidence, and they have been deadly on the road in these playoffs. It is never easy to win the fourth and final game of the NBA Finals, and the Celtics having to do so without Porzingis makes it even more difficult. The Celtics’ starting center’s availability to play in Game 5 remains the biggest uncertainty surrounding the 2024 NBA Finals. Mazzulla discussed the team’s mindset and approach for Game 5 on their home court during media availability on Sunday. Porzingis is still listed as questionable to play, but his status has not been updated since he received the injury designation on Sunday afternoon.”I’m not sure where he is,” Mazzulla said, noting that he hadn’t spoken with Porzingis before the team’s practice. “But he’s doing everything he can to position himself to be out there. That is something I am confident of.
Porzingis was not made available to the media or reporters on Sunday, but he has been spotted walking around with no visible limp or limits in his step. The good news for the Celtics is that Porzingis was active and ready to go whenever his name was called in Game 4. The question of whether he will be the same impactful big man as before remained unanswered. Xavier Tillman Sr., who has stepped up off the bench for the Celtics in the last two games following Porzingis’ injury, told reporters on Sunday that he feels Boston’s star is still struggling with a lot of discomfort. “We will see. Obviously, this is a rare leg injury. “If he’s in excruciating pain and can’t be himself, it might not be worth it,” Tillman said about Porzingis’ potential comeback in this series, according to Celtics reporter Noa Dalzell. “When we go through our sessions and stuff like that, he’s accomplishing some things, but you can sense he’s nervous. We don’t want to put him in a scenario that could seriously injure him.”
Given that his situation hasn’t changed much since Game 4, it appears that Porzingis is once again on track to be active off the bench. However, with Tillman stepping up and the Celtics still leading the championship series 3-1, Mazzulla and his staff will most likely keep Porzingis on the bench for the remainder of the game. So, when it comes to whether Kristaps Porzingis will play in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Mavericks on Monday night, the trend continues to be negative. Then again, you never know when Mazzulla will call Porzingis’ name during Game 5 on Monday.
