Kristaps Porzingis completed multiple scrimmages in recent days and is on track to play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks.
Porzingis has been out since April 29th with a calf injury.
The Dallas Mavericks have made it back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011. Now, one of the key architects of the team will be around for the foreseeable future.
General Manager Nico Harrison signed a multi-year extension with the Mavericks. Harrison joined Dallas as their GM ahead of the 2021 offseason.
One of Harrison’s first moves was to extend Luka Doncic on a rookie scale extension. Harrison then keyed a trade for Kyrie Irving ahead of the 2023 trade deadline. Before this season’s trade deadline, he dealt for Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington.
The Mavs previously extended head coach Jason Kidd’s contract earlier in the postseason. Dallas now has their leadership, and several key players, locked in for at least the next few years.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen will not compete for Finland this summer. Finland is set to compete in Group B of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia, Spain. Other teams in the group include the Bahamas and Poland. The winner of Group B will play Spain, Angola or Lebanon for a berth in this summer’s Paris Olympics.
Markkanen is still rehabbing from a right shoulder injury suffered during last season. The Jazz star expressed disappointment at missing the Qualifying Tournament.
“Certainly, this is tough,” Markkanen said. “Representing Finland and playing for the national team is an honor for me. Along with my teammates, we have been talking all season about how sweet it would be to advance to the Olympic Games.”
Finland is set to host 2025 EuroBasket. Markkanen made it clear he’s ready for that competition by saying, “Those dates are marked on my calendar.”
