Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic received a painkilling injection before Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics to treat his pectoral bruise. ESPN reported Tuesday.
He is expected to need one more game before Game 3, according to the report. The Celtics and Mavericks are scheduled to play Game 3 in Dallas on Wednesday. The Celtics lead 2-0 after winning their first two games in Boston.
“I feel good,” Doncic told reporters Tuesday. “I don’t want to give any more details, but I feel good.”
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said Sunday that Doncic suffered a chest contusion at some point during Game 1 while making a tackle or diving for a loose ball.
Dončić was playing through ankle and knee injuries throughout the playoffs. He was demoted from probable to questionable ahead of Sunday’s Game 2 with a pectoral contusion added to his status. He was cleared to play after pre-match warmups.
Dončić initially appeared unaffected by the injury while scoring 23 points in the first quarter of Game 2. He slowed down in the second half and finished with 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. He also turned the ball over eight times and struggled to stay in front of Boston’s ball players on defense.
The Celtics built a 54-51 lead in the first half by double figures before fending off a late Dallas surge to win 105-98 in Game 2.
Meanwhile, the Celtics announced on Tuesday that Kristaps Porzingis has a “tear of the middle retina allowing the posterior tibial tendon to dislocate” in his left leg and is a day ahead of Game 3. Porzingis suffered a leg injury in the second game. The Celtics noted that the injury was not related to a calf injury that sidelined him for 10 previous playoff games, describing it as “rare.”
Porzingis was suffering from a noticeable disability after the injury that affected his left ankle. He scored 12 points and four rebounds while playing in limited plays in the second half. He said Tuesday he was “optimistic” he could play in Game 3.
“I’ll see how I’ll be tomorrow” Porzingis told reporters. “Obviously I’ll do everything I can to be there tomorrow. We’ll see. … I’m optimistic. And like I said, I’ll do everything I can to be there tomorrow. …
“Nothing will stop me unless I’m told not to – or I’m not allowed to play.”
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