The Boston Celtics will be without their experienced center Nikola Vučević for the next few weeks after he underwent successful surgery to repair a fractured finger. The procedure, performed at New England Baptist Hospital, aimed to stabilize the injury and allow him to recover fully.
According to an official statement from the Celtics medical team, Vučević’s right ring finger was treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery on Saturday, with further evaluation scheduled in three to four weeks. This injury update confirms that the two-time All-Star is expected to be sidelined for between three and four weeks as he recovers.
Vučević Injured Early in Celtics’ Victory Over Dallas Mavericks
Vučević suffered the fracture during Boston’s 120–100 win over the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on Friday night. The game also featured the exciting return of Jayson Tatum, who appeared for the Celtics after nearly 10 months away due to a torn Achilles tendon.
Vučević’s participation was limited to just two minutes before he left the court and returned to the locker room. He did not record any statistics before being ruled out for the remainder of the game during the second quarter. This marked only his twelfth game with Boston since joining earlier this season.
Midseason Trade Brought Vučević to Strengthen Celtics’ Frontcourt
Boston acquired Vučević at the NBA trade deadline to boost its frontcourt depth ahead of the postseason push. The Celtics traded guard Anfernee Simons and a 2026 second-round draft pick to the Chicago Bulls, receiving Vučević and a 2027 second-round selection in return.
This transaction added a seasoned scorer and rebounder to Boston’s lineup, providing valuable experience and additional options for head coach Joe Mazzulla in the interior rotation. Vučević adapted quickly to a bench role while contributing consistent performance off the bench.
Consistent Contributions from Vučević Since Joining Celtics
Despite primarily coming off the bench, Vučević showed steady production in his 12 appearances with Boston. Before his injury, he averaged 23.5 minutes per game with a scoring average of 11.4 points and 7.8 rebounds, nearly reaching double-double figures regularly.
He also demonstrated effective shooting, converting 44 percent of his field goal attempts and 35 percent of three-point shots. His combination of floor-spacing ability and rebounding has made him a key piece of Boston’s bench unit.
Young Celtics Big Men to Step Up During Vučević’s Absence
With Vučević sidelined, Boston will depend on its remaining frontcourt players to shoulder the extra minutes. Starting center Neemias Queta had a standout performance against Dallas, putting up 16 points and 15 rebounds to anchor the Celtics’ interior presence.
Backup center Luka Garza also provided valuable minutes, contributing 10 points, three rebounds, and two blocks off the bench. Additionally, rookie Amari Williams is expected to see more court time as Boston navigates this temporary frontcourt challenge.
This trio of Queta, Garza, and Williams will be instrumental in maintaining the Celtics’ competitiveness inside until Vučević is able to return.
Vučević’s Track Record as a Reliable NBA Center
Prior to joining Boston, Vučević had multiple productive seasons with the Chicago Bulls, appearing in 48 games this season and posting averages of 16.9 points and nine rebounds per contest. He shot an efficient 50 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc during his time with Chicago.
Over several seasons, Vučević carved a reputation as one of the league’s most dependable big men, known for his versatile scoring, strong rebounding, and ability to stretch the floor with outside shooting. This made him an attractive asset for Boston as it pursues a deep playoff run.
Celtics Medical Staff to Monitor Vučević’s Recovery Progress
The Celtics’ health team will reassess Vučević’s healing in approximately three to four weeks, which could allow him to return toward the end of the regular season, contingent on his progress. Boston’s final regular-season game is scheduled for April 12 against the Orlando Magic.
As a team with championship ambitions, Boston recognizes the importance of maintaining depth in its frontcourt and has prepared its young big men to absorb the increased responsibility during Vučević’s recovery period.
While cautious about the timeline, the organization remains hopeful that Vučević will rejoin the lineup as the playoffs approach, providing veteran leadership and offensive versatility when it matters most.
The hope in Boston is that Nikola Vučević is back before the playoffs.
The Celtics say he’ll be re-evaluated in three-to-four weeks after surgery this morning to stabilize a fracture in his right ring finger. pic.twitter.com/ncNYAHCAa6
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) March 7, 2026
