Kristaps Porzingis made a triumphant return to the court on Monday night as the Boston Celtics faced off against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Celtics coach confirmed Porzingis' availability before the game, stating that they expected to see him in action. The 7-foot-2 Latvian received a warm welcome from the crowd as he entered the game with just under seven minutes remaining in the first quarter, although he missed his first shot, a 3-point attempt.
Porzingis had sat out the previous two games due to a dislocated tendon in his left ankle. However, there were no restrictions on his playing time for Game 5. In Game 4, he was cleared to play a limited role but did not see any action during Boston's heavy defeat to Dallas. Prior to the game, he was listed as questionable, but after a pre-game workout that included shooting, light-contact post work, and lateral movement drills, he was given the green light to play.
The Celtics clarified that Porzingis' current tendon issue is unrelated to a calf strain he suffered on April 29 during the first round against Miami, which had caused him to miss 10 games. In his first six postseason games, Porzingis averaged 13.5 points and 5.0 rebounds, with an impressive performance in Game 1 against Dallas where he recorded 20 points, six rebounds, and three blocked shots.
Porzingis' return adds a significant boost to the Celtics' lineup as they look to close out the series against the Mavericks. His presence on the court brings a valuable scoring threat and defensive presence that could prove crucial in the team's quest for a championship.
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