DALLAS (AP) — Kristaps Porzingis will be in uniform and available to play when the Boston Celtics try to complete a sweep of the NBA Finals in Game 4 against the Dallas Mavericks.
Porzingis missed the previous game because of a rare tendon injury. He had been listed as questionable for Friday night before going through an on-court workout about 2 1/2 hours before tipoff.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said before the game that Porzingis would be limited on the floor.
“He’s not quite there. He’s available,” Mazzulla said. “We’ll use him in very specific situations.”
The 7-foot-2 Latvian center missed Game 3 because of a tear in the tissue that holds tendons in place in his lower left leg. The Celtics have said that tendon issue is unrelated to the calf strain sustained April 29 in the first round against Miami that led to him missing 10 games.
Porzingis averaged 13.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in his first six games this postseason, including 20 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots in Game 1 against Dallas.
Al Horford, the 38-year-old center seeking his first NBA title, has been the starting center since Porzingis got hurt in the first round. He even started when Porzingis played in the first two games of the NBA Finals.
Porzingis signed a $60 million, two-year extension with the Celtics after they acquired him in a trade with Washington last summer. That deal kicks in next season.
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