BOSTON — The Celtics endured an untimely injury during Saturday night’s battle against the Memphis Grizzlies at TD Garden.
Sam Hauser hobbled to Boston’s locker room with 8:59 remaining in the second quarter before being replaced by Jrue Holiday. The Celtics revealed right adductor tightness was the cause and that the 27-year-old would be sidelined for the remainder of the game, ending Hauser’s night at a [scoreless 0-for-2 showing](https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401704911) from the field in nine minutes.
Hauser attempted two 3-pointers in the first quarter and grabbed a rebound before clocking out, trimming off a serviceable chunk of Boston’s depth — Hauser entered the night averaging 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting 44.6% from the floor and 37.4% from beyond the arc.
The premature departure isn’t anything new to the reigning champs.
Boston opened its season missing starting center Kristaps Porzingis for the first 18 games played, hasn’t been able to play Al Horford in back-to-back nights and recently defeated the Detroit Pistons without Jayson Tatum on Wednesday night.
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Missing Hauser could backfire, especially considering the Celtics missed 20 first-half 3-point attempts and followed its fourth-year veteran into the locker room trailing the Grizzlies, 66-54, in hopes of capturing a fourth consecutive win.
Featured image via Eric Canha/Imagn Images