Boston Celtics
The Celtics’ front court depth took a hit Friday night.
Nikola Vucevic. AP Photo/Aaron Gash
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Celtics center Nikola Vucevic fractured his right ring finger during the first half of Friday’s game, the team announced.
He is expected undergo a procedure to repair the finger and will likely be out for a month, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Vucevic grabbed his hand after catching the ball on a post-up against Dallas’ Moussa Cisse. He was able to run back on defense, but left the game after the Mavericks scored on the other end.
Vucevic played just two minutes before the injury. He finished with no points or rebounds.
It’s not immediately clear how long Vucevic will be out beyond Friday night. His absence could be a blow to the Celtics’ front-court depth.
Jayson Tatum is at the beginning stages of working himself back into the lineup. Friday night was his first game since he ruptured his Achilles’ tendon last May.
Neemias Queta has been productive, averaging 9.9 points and 8.2 rebounds, but he only averages 24.8 points per game. Luka Garza has been the Celtics’ top reserve option at center. Beyond those two, the depth down low gets real thin without Vucevic. Rookie Amari Williams appeared in 16 games with a pair of starts, averaging 7.2 minutes per contest.
Vucevic has averaged 11.4 points and 8.8 rebounds for the Celtics since being acquired at the trade deadline. He’s shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from beyond the arc.
The Celtics play again on Sunday when they’ll travel to Cleveland for a matchup with the Cavaliers. They’ll release an injury report on Saturday, which will be an opportunity to know more about Vucevic’s status.
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
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