Celtics’ Kristaps Porziņģis to miss 5-6 months after surgery to repair injured ankle

The Boston Celtics announced on Thursday that Kristaps Porziņģis underwent surgery to repair a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon. The rare ankle injury, which he suffered during the NBA Finals, is expected to keep the 28-year-old forward out 5-6 months.

Porziņģis suffered the injury during Game 2 against the Dallas Mavericks after an awkward collision with Mavericks center Dereck Lively II as they were boxing out during a free throw. He struggled limping up the court after the collision and was pulled from the game early. The team described the injury, which was separate from the calf injury that kept him out of the previous two rounds of the playoffs, as “rare.”

Porziņģis missed Games 3 and 4 and returned in a limited capacity to play in Boston’s Game 5 clincher at home.

He said after the series that he would require surgery for the injury. Celtics president Brad Stevens told reporters on Tuesday that Porziņģis was in the process of consulting with doctors and that he was expected to undergo surgery “soon.”

Stevens declined then to speculate on a timeline before acknowledging Wednesday that Porziņģis would likely miss the start of next season and maybe beyond.

The injury will keep Porziņģis from taking part in the Paris Olympic qualifying tournament for Latvia on July 2-7 in Riga, Latvia.