Kristaps Porzingis out Game 4 vs. Clippers with right knee soreness

Kristaps Porzingis will not play for the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.

Though Luka Doncic is good to go on Sunday afternoon, Kristaps Porzingis cannot.

According to Stadium’s Shams Charania, “Mavs‘ Kristaps Porzingis (right knee soreness) will miss Game 4 against the Clippers.” This news came shortly before tip-off and only a few minutes after Charania reported, “Mavericks star Luka Doncic (ankle sprain) will play in Game 4 against the Clippers.”

How will this impact the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 vs. the Los Angeles Clippers?

Will the Dallas Mavericks be able to hold serve without Kristaps Porzingis?

Dallas trails the Clippers 2-1 in the best-of-seven first round series in the NBA bubble down in Orlando, Florida. The Clippers have won Games 1 and 3, while the Mavericks took Game 2. Though the Clippers are favored to win this best-of-seven series, Dallas has the star power in Doncic and Porzingis to make this a series. They might fall in six, but they don’t want a gentleman’s sweep.

Porzingis was ejected in Game 1’s loss, which may or may not have tipped the scales in the Clippers’ favor. While Los Angeles should advance to the Western Conference Semifinals, the Clippers haven’t exactly been championship-caliber in their three games vs. the Mavericks thus far. They have yet to have a blowout victory over Dallas to really take full control of the series.

As for Dallas, this is a must-win because the Mavericks can’t afford to be down three games to win in a best-of-seven series. Doncic and Porzingis may be able to hold off eventual defeat until Games 6 or 7, but they don’t have the firepower to win three in a row against Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. It will take a total team effort to upend the Clippers on Sunday without Porzingis.