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By Antonis Stroggylakis / [email protected]
Kristaps Porzingis has no plans to break out of the Orlando bubble and will attempt to return to action for the Dallas Mavericks if his team records two straight series victories against the Los Angeles Clippers to advance to the Western semifinals. The Mavs are down 3-2 and their Game 6 of life or death is played Sunday (8/30).
“My hope is that if we get a chance to move forward, maybe somehow I can improve my knee and play,” Porzingis said on a zoom call. “I tried to go to practice now and the medical staff would not accept me to play and do more. For now, I’m doing intense treatment and doing everything I can to improve my knee and we’ll see where we go from tomorrow night. ” The Mavericks officially ruled Porzingis for the remainder of the series against the Clippers after the player was diagnosed with a torn meniscus.
Porzingis mentioned that he played in pain in the first three games of the series after he was injured early in the first game. “I played Game 2 and Game 3. It happened in Game 1. I played those three games. After Game 1, my knee was locked. Somehow I got it. In Game 3, it got worse. Just before the game [4) I just couldn’t get the knee going. It was super disappointing. Super frustrating.”
Later on Saturday, Porzingis tweeted: “I appreciate all the support! I love this game and this is a part of it. I’m gonna bounce back soon.”
“The door isn’t closed in the entire season if we are able to advance,” Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said on Porzingis and added on his forward’s eagerness and effort to step back on the court if his team gets past the Clippers.
“He was on the floor today and did some shooting. He wants to keep the door open to possibly play if we can move on,” Carlisle said. “It’s a very tough situation and he’s trying his best.”
In the meantime, the short break that was caused after the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted Game 5 vs. the Orlando Magic, helped Luka Doncic recover his sprained ankle enough to be at near-full strength for the must-win Game 6.
“Ankle’s doing well all things considered,” Carlisle said. “I think the extra two or three days is a plus, certainly. He looked pretty good in practice today. Going into tomorrow, I don’t think he’s going to be limited.”
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