Latvian star Kristaps Porziņģis will not return to the court in the first round of the NBA elimination tournament due to a knee meniscus injury.
Porziņģis did not participate in the fourth and fifth games of the quarterfinals of the NBA Western Conference, because he was removed from the game application due to injury. Liepājnieks did not go on the field in both games, because he felt pain in his right knee before. It was also reported that Porziņģis had a heel bruise.
The Mavericks announced on Friday that Porziņģis was being treated for a meniscus rupture of the lateral knee. However, the team did not yet know whether surgery would be required.
“The door to return to the field is not closed, provided we continue the season. Every effort was made, but the injury did not hurt as well as we had planned. On Saturday he was in the hall and threw a little in the basket. He wants to leave the opportunity to return to the field this season. The situation is very difficult, but he has done as much as he could, “said Carlla, during a meeting with the media on Saturday.
Carlisle also revealed that Luke Dončič, who had previously injured his ankle, is unlikely to be limited in playing time in the next match.
On Saturday, the investigator hoped that the injections would improve the situation without the need for surgery.
Porziņģis also did not rule out the possibility of participating in the second round of the playoffs in a conversation with the media, unless his team “Mavericks” will deal with one of the strongest clubs in the league, the Los Angeles “Clippers”, which is currently in the lead with 3-2. To reach the next round of play-offs, one of the two teams must win four successes.
Last year, Porziņģis broke the cross ligaments in his left leg, but this season he missed ten games because there was pain in his other knee.
In the first three playoffs, in which Porziņģis was on the field from the first minutes, the Latvian scored 23.7 points on average, 8.7 rebounds were won, playing an average of 31.3 minutes.
Liepājnieks attacked the basket with 52.5% (21/40) accuracy in three elimination matches, but from the long throw line he realized 52.9% throws (9/17). Meanwhile, he threw “penalties” with 87% accuracy (20/23).
The next duel between the two teams is scheduled for Sunday at 22.30 Latvian time. The match was due to take place on Friday, but in protest of racial inequality and police violence, the games of the last three days have been postponed.
If the Mavericks beat the first round, the second could start in the second half of next week.
NBA teams played eight matches before the playoffs to determine the final place distribution before the playoffs began. The Mavericks finished seventh in the Western Conference, while the Clippers finished second.
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