2 min read • May 21, 2024
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The Latvian superstar, Kristaps Porzingis, suffered a right soleus calf strain in Game 4 of the Miami Heat series and has yet to return to the playoffs. The Boston Celtics have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals and are awaiting the winner of the Indiana Pacers - New York Knicks series. At sicscore.com, it is expected that Porzingis will remain out until the NBA Finals. Despite posting social media videos of himself shooting, the panel of Pro Basketball Docs believes he is not close to returning and will likely miss the next series. The Celtics have managed to get by with a rotation of big men led by Al Horford, but they certainly miss Porzingis' contribution of 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
Indiana Pacers sharpshooter Bennedict Mathurin's season came to an abrupt halt after he sustained a right shoulder labrum injury on March 7, ruling him out for the remainder of the season including playoffs. The severity of the injury necessitated surgical intervention, which is aimed at repairing the labrum to minimize the future risk of shoulder dislocations. Pacers will miss his bench scoring with the Arizona alum averaging 14.5 ppg.
Veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr. is nursing a right Achilles injury, which was clarified to a soleus calf injury and is listed on the injury report as soreness. He missed Game 5 of the Nuggets series but has returned for the last two games, although he has been limited to just three-point shooting. His playmaking and driving to the net have been affected by the issue, but the good news is he will likely continue to play through it. Expect his point production and defense to take a slight hit in the remaining playoff games.
Luka Doncic
Dallas Mavericks star is managing both knee and ankle injuries during the Mavericks' playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He initially suffered a knee sprain in Game 3 of the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers and has been wearing a bulky right knee brace since then. More recently, he incurred a left ankle injury in Game 3 of the second round against the Thunder. Despite these setbacks, Dončić has performed at a high level demonstrating his ability to push through the pain. His situation is primarily a matter of pain management according to our panel of Pro Basketball Docs, and he has publicly acknowledged that his knee injury won't fully heal until the offseason, potentially requiring a clean-up surgery. Given the grueling schedule and the significant minutes Dončić plays, his performance might be impacted game to game, especially by his knee issue. We at sicscore.com believe Dončić will continue to play through both issues and not miss a game during the playoffs.
Max Kleber
In their win over the Clippers, Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber was fouled while attempting a shot, resulting in a hard fall and a subsequent exit to the locker room. Kleber suffered a full dislocation of the AC joint in his right shoulder. The incident occurred early in the second quarter when Kleber was fouled by Amir Coffey. Despite the discomfort, Kleber managed to make one of two free throws before leaving the court and did not return to the game. Pro Basketball Docs expect Kleber to miss a significant amount of time and believe he is likely out for the remainder of the playoffs. Even if the Mavericks make the NBA Finals, Kleber will likely be sidelined. It is very difficult to play in the NBA with torn shoulder ligaments, unlike the NFL where you can delay surgery and play through with a shoulder strap.
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