The Boston Celtics may get a key piece back in their lineup shortly before the NBA playoffs begin.
Center Nikola Vučević was upgraded to questionable for Sunday’s matchup with the Toronto Raptors on the Celtics’ injury report. He has missed Boston’s past 14 games with a fractured ring finger that required surgery to stabilize.
Advertisement
Vučević, 35, was acquired at the NBA trade deadline from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick. (Boston also received a second-rounder in the deal.) He appeared in 12 games before getting injured, averaging 10.4 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 35% on 37 3-point attempts.
Overall this season, Vučević is scoring 15.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, and shooting 37% on 3s.
Without Vučević, the Celtics have gone 10-4 and maintained their hold on the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, four games behind the Detroit Pistons and 2.5 games ahead of the New York Knicks.
Advertisement
However, Vučević’s absence also coincided with the return of Jayson Tatum from a ruptured Achilles sustained in last season’s playoffs. In 13 games, he’s averaged 21.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists with 33% shooting from long range.
Now, with five games remaining on the regular-season schedule, Boston expects to have its full complement of players and some time for Vučević to work into condition. That will also include Ron Harper Jr., who reportedly agreed to a two-year deal after bouncing between Boston and the team’s G League affiliate. He’s averaged 3.4 points and shot 34% on 3-pointers in 26 games with the Celtics.
Advertisement
Mathematically, the top spot in the East is still within reach but a first-round matchup against either the Raptors or Philadelphia 76ers appears likely.