Boston Celtics forward Kristaps Porzingis' availability for Game 3 of the NBA Finals remains uncertain as he continues to recover from a left leg injury. Porzingis, who suffered the injury during Game 2 against the Dallas Mavericks, is now considered day-to-day, according to an update from the Celtics on Tuesday.

Despite his injury, Porzingis has expressed his determination to take the court for Game 3. In a lighthearted remark, he jokingly mentioned he would "die out there" if needed. However, the seriousness of the situation has raised concerns among NBA analysts, including Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.

Mannix highlighted the potential risks of returning too quickly from an injury such as Porzingis'. He noted that while the injury occurred in Porzingis' left leg, the concern is whether he would overcompensate and put additional strain on his right leg, which had previously caused him to miss 38 days of play due to a calf strain.

Porzingis' return to the Celtics lineup has been a mixed bag. Although he made an impressive impact in Game 1 with 20 points and three blocks in just 20 minutes on the court, Game 2 saw him being subbed out with just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter in favor of Al Horford.

While the Celtics managed to secure a 105-98 victory in Game 2 and hold a 2-0 series lead, Mannix believes that Porzingis' absence could open the door for the Mavericks to mount a comeback. The Celtics have demonstrated success without Porzingis earlier in the postseason, going 9-1 in the 10 games he missed. However, Mannix expressed concern about the lack of depth and readiness of potential replacements such as Luke Kornet and Oshae Brissett.

The Celtics, who aim to extend their unbeaten streak on the road to 7-0 this postseason, are preparing for a challenging Game 3 at the American Airlines Center. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET, with the Celtics Pregame Live starting at 7 p.m. The team, along with fans, anxiously awaits the final decision on Porzingis' availability as they look to maintain their momentum in the NBA Finals.