Kristaps Porzingis has endured an injury-riddled time since moving to Dallas Mavericks from the New York Knicks. With the Knicks, in 2017-18 his high-caliber numbers had earned him an All-Star game feature as a reserve. Coming into this season, expectations from the new Mavericks coach, Jason Kidd, were of Porzingis replicating his All-Star season.
But his previously operated-on right knee continues to be the bane of any rhythm Porzingis hopes to accumulate over the regular season to contribute alongside Luka Doncic in the playoffs for the Dallas Mavericks. Multiple injuries including lower back soreness and a left knee contusion kept him out for various stretches of the season. Including a brief encounter with Covid-19 at around the same time as his head coach, Jason Kidd.
Kristaps Porzingis’ Latest Injury
His most recent injury occurred on 30th January 2022 while playing against his former head coach’s team, Indiana Pacers. After putting up 5 points and recording a single rebound in 11 minutes on-court, Kristaps Porzingis withdrew from the game. The withdrawal was later explained by the team to be soreness in his right knee. This is the same right knee that required surgery after the 2019-20 season.
Kristaps Porzingis’ right knee is the one that had the lateral meniscus injury that required surgery after the 2019-20 season. https://t.co/jnA1BYsBp0
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) January 30, 2022
After having missed 16 games at the time of injury, Porzingis has remained sidelined for 4 games since. And he is set to miss his 21st game of the season against the Detroit Pistons tonight.
Sterling Brown (left foot soreness) is questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Pistons.
Tim Hardaway Jr. (left foot surgery), Maxi Kleber (left knee effusion) and Kristaps Porzingis (right knee bone bruise) will all remain out.
— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) February 7, 2022
Impact on the team
The Dallas Mavericks have sorely missed Kristaps Porzingis’ rim protection that contributed heavily to their defensive schemes. Which in turn helped them achieve a league-high defensive rating of 100.8 since the turn of the year.
This was evident in the losses that Dallas succumbed to against inferior opposition such as the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder. On the offensive end too, Luka Doncic is feeling the absence of his secondary point scorers, Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr.
Porzingis has recorded an average of 19.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and a career-high 2 assists per game, in 34 games played this season. The Mavericks will hope he returns soon to cement their challenge for a higher seed in hopes of securing home-court advantage.
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