The Boston Celtics beat the Miami Heat 147-129 on Wednesday night at Kaseya Center. Jaylen Brown had a stellar outing, pouring in 43 points with 7 assists. Jayson Tatum recorded his first triple-double since returning from injury with 25 points, 18 rebounds, and 11 assists. Boston set a franchise record with 53 first-quarter points.
The Celtics have won eight of their last ten games and sit at 51-25 with six regular season games remaining. The sit second seed in the East. The postseason is approaching fast.
With Brown and Tatum both healthy and producing at elite levels, another piece has been missing from Boston’s rotation. Celtics shootaround offered a promising sign that the absence may not last much longer.
Celtics Get Injury Boost
Nikola Vucevic went through a 3-on-3 session at Wednesday’s shootaround in Miami with Hugo Gonzalez and several assistant coaches. The workout included defensive reps, physical contact, and passes all while putting the injured right hand to use.
Vucevic has been sidelined since March 6, when he fractured his right ring finger. Surgery to stabilize the fracture came the next day. The Celtics announced a 3-to-4-week re-evaluation timeline. Wednesday marked almost exactly four weeks since the procedure.
“He’s getting better, as you saw in the workout today,” Mazzulla said. “The most important thing is that he feels 100%. When he’s ready, he’ll come back.”
The Celtics have not announced a specific return date, but the on-court work represented the most significant step forward since the injury.
GettyNikola Vucevic #4 of the Boston Celtics
What Vucevic Brings Back to Boston
Vucevic played 12 games before the injury and showed Boston exactly what he could provide. He shot 44.5 percent from the floor and 35.1 percent from deep while contributing 10.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
In his absence, Luka Garza has stepped into a larger role and thrived. Garza has been remarkably efficient since taking on more minutes, converting 63.8 percent of his field goals and 46.4 percent from three while averaging 9.8 points in 17.8 minutes per game. Monday’s performance was his best yet. 20 points on just nine attempts from the field.
The frontcourt rotation becomes an interesting puzzle once Vucevic returns. Garza, Neemias Queta, and Vucevic have all earned minutes. Getting the veteran back gives the coaching staff options they haven’t had since early March.
GettyNikola Vucevic of the Boston Celtics.
Injury Report for Milwaukee Matchup
Vucevic remains the only absence on Boston’s injury report heading into Friday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. The rest of the roster is fully available.
The Bucks, meanwhile, will be shorthanded for the matchup. Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for the season. Bobby Portis is sidelined with a left wrist sprain. Kevin Porter Jr. is out with right knee synovitis.
Boston is ahead in the season series, winning two of three meetings and doing so by nearly 30 points each time.
Final Word for the Celtics
Brown is playing the best basketball of his career. Tatum is building momentum with every game. The supporting cast is contributing across the board.
Getting Vucevic back would add another dimension to a Celtics roster that already looks like one of the league’s most dangerous. His ability to score from the post and stretch the floor from three gives Mazzulla another weapon on offense.
Six games remain before the playoffs begin.
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