Kristaps Porzingis was available for the Boston Celtics in Friday night's Game 4 of the NBA Finals, but didn't end up playing in the team's 122-84 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said before the game that Porzingis would "only be used in specific instances, if necessary" if he did play.
Porzingis had been listed as questionable before going through an on-court workout about 2 1/2 hours before tipoff. He sat out the Celtics' Game 3 victory because of a lower left leg injury he suffered in the third quarter of Game 2.
The 7-foot-2 Latvian has a dislocated tendon in his left leg, caused by a tear of the tissue that holds tendons in place. The team has called the injury rare, and Mazzulla labeled it "serious."
Porzingis played the first two games of the NBA Finals, with a crucial role in the Game 1 win, after missing the previous 10 playoff games with a strained right calf.
Game 5 is Monday in Boston, where the Celtics again will go for an 18th NBA championship.
