Dallas Mavericks big man Kristaps Porzingis has been ruled out for the remainder of the first-round playoff series against the LA Clippers due to a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee, the team announced Friday evening.
The team’s statement said that “further treatment options are being explored at this time” and that Porzingis suffered the injury during the Mavericks’ Game 1 loss.
Porzingis was listed as questionable for Game 2, when he scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 36 minutes to help the Mavs win. He had a 34-point, 13-rebound performance in 38 minutes in a Game 3 loss.
His knee issue was not mentioned on the Game 4 injury report, but he was scratched minutes before tipoff after reporting soreness. He also missed Game 5, getting downgraded from questionable to out the morning of the game.
Porzingis missed a season and a half after tearing the ACL in his left knee in February 2018 in what ended up being his final game for the New York Knicks. The Mavs acquired Porzingis in a trade the following year, pairing him with rising superstar Luka Doncic as the franchise cornerstones.
Dallas re-signed Porzingis last summer to a maximum deal worth $158 million over five seasons.
The 7-foot-3 Porzingis, 25, averaged 20.4 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 57 games during his first season with the Mavericks.
