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Nikola Vucevic #4 of the Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics will be without veteran center Nikola Vučević for several weeks after the big man underwent surgery to repair a fractured finger.
The team announced Saturday that Vučević had successful ORIF surgery to stabilize a fracture in his right ring finger.
“Celtics center Nikola Vučević today underwent successful ORIF surgery to stabilize a fracture in his right ring finger,” the team said in an official medical bulletin via NBA insider Marc Stein. “The surgery was performed at New England Baptist Hospital by Dr. Herve Kimball, assisted by Celtics Team Physician Dr. Tony Schena. Vučević will be reevaluated in 3-4 weeks, and further updates will be provided as appropriate.”
The injury is expected to sideline the two-time All-Star for three to four weeks while he recovers.
Nikola Vučević Injured During Celtics Win Over Mavericks
Vučević sustained the injury during Boston’s 120–100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on Friday night.
The game also marked the highly anticipated return of Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who appeared in his first game in nearly 10 months after recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.
Vučević’s night ended quickly.
The veteran center exited after just two minutes of action and returned to the locker room shortly afterward. Boston ruled him out during the second quarter, and he did not record a single statistic before leaving the game.
Friday’s appearance marked the 12th game Vučević had played with the Celtics since joining the team earlier this season.
Celtics Trade Deadline Move Brought Nikola Vučević to Boston
Boston acquired Vučević at the NBA trade deadline in a move designed to strengthen its frontcourt depth for the postseason push.
The Celtics sent guard Anfernee Simons and a 2026 second-round pick to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Vučević and a 2027 second-round pick.
The addition gave Boston a proven interior scorer and rebounder to complement its core rotation.
Vučević quickly settled into a bench role for the Celtics while providing veteran experience and reliable production in the frontcourt.
Nikola Vučević Producing Consistent Numbers in Boston
Despite coming off the bench, Vučević delivered steady production during his early stretch with Boston.
Entering Friday’s game, he had made one start in his first 12 appearances with the Celtics while averaging 23.5 minutes per game.
During that span, Vučević averaged 11.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, nearly producing a double-double while shooting 44 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range.
His ability to stretch the floor offensively while also providing strong rebounding made him a valuable addition to Boston’s rotation.
Boston Turns to Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, Amari Williams
With Vučević sidelined, Boston will rely on its remaining big men to fill the frontcourt minutes.
Starting center Neemias Queta stepped up during Friday’s win over Dallas, finishing with 16 points and 15 rebounds while anchoring the Celtics’ interior presence.
The Celtics also received a strong contribution from reserve center Luka Garza, who added 10 points, three rebounds and two blocks off the bench.
Boston could also look to rookie big man Amari Williams for additional depth as the team navigates Vučević’s absence.
The trio of Queta, Garza and Williams will absorb most of the frontcourt workload while the veteran center recovers.
Veteran Center Built Reputation as One of NBA’s Most Reliable Big Men
Before arriving in Boston, Vučević spent several productive seasons with Chicago.
The veteran appeared in 48 games for the Bulls this season, averaging 16.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range.
Across multiple seasons with Chicago, Vučević consistently produced double-double numbers and established himself as one of the league’s most dependable offensive centers.
His scoring versatility, rebounding ability and perimeter shooting made him an attractive trade target for a contending team like Boston.
Celtics Monitoring Vučević Recovery Timeline
Boston’s medical staff plans to reevaluate Vučević in three to four weeks, which could position him to return near the closing weeks of the regular season, depending on how his recovery progresses.
The Celtics play their last regular-season game on April 12 against the Orlando Magic.
For a Celtics team with championship aspirations, maintaining frontcourt depth will be critical as the playoffs approach.
In the meantime, Boston will lean on its younger big men to carry the load while Vučević works his way back to full strength.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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