Boston Celtics Nikola Vucevic
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Nikola Vucevic is progressing, but with no clear timeline and the Knicks surging, the Celtics’ grip on the No. 2 seed is suddenly under pressure.
The Boston Celtics are getting encouraging signs from Nikola Vucevic, but not certainty. With the playoffs approaching, Boston still lacks a clear timeline for the veteran center’s return from a fractured right ring finger, leaving questions about frontcourt depth as the No. 2 seed comes under pressure.
Seventeen days removed from surgery, head coach Joe Mazzulla says Vucevic is progressing, though the finish line remains unclear. “He’s getting better,” Mazzulla said Tuesday. “He’s doing his on-court work… but I don’t have an exact timeline.”
This matters because Boston’s playoff rotation and its ability to match up with top contenders may hinge on whether Vucevic is fully ready in time. With roughly three weeks left in the regular season, the Celtics are balancing recovery timelines with playoff positioning, a delicate equation for a team trying to enter May at full strength.
Nikola Vucevic Injury Update, Jayson Tatum Return Status
Vucevic’s recovery continues to trend in the right direction. The 35-year-old is back on the court, even working with his non-shooting hand to stay in rhythm. That detail matters. It signals Boston is prioritizing conditioning so he can contribute immediately upon return.
Boston’s initial three-to-four week reevaluation window places Vucevic’s potential return near the final stretch of the regular season. In other words, the runway to regain rhythm before the playoffs may be limited. Still, the key question remains: will he have enough time to reintegrate?
Vucevic has made his goal clear, he wants to return before the postseason. “The good thing is I can still do some stuff on the court,” Vucevic told The Boston Globe. “That will help me for when I come back (to be in) shape, and hopefully I get a couple games before the playoffs, get back in rhythm with the guys… everything going as smoothly as possible.”
Since arriving from Chicago at the trade deadline, Vucevic is averaging 10.4 points and 7.2 rebounds in a limited bench role. The production has been uneven, but his skill setof floor spacing and interior scoring adds a different dimension behind starting center Neemias Queta.
In his absence, Luka Garza steps into the backup role and produces. He scores in double figures in four of nine games and posts the best net rating among Boston rotation players during that stretch. That development gives the Celtics a functional safety net, but not necessarily a playoff-proof solution.
Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum is back, but still finding rhythm. In eight games since returning, he averages 19.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while shooting 38.8% from the field and 29.3% from three. The takeaway is simple: Boston is getting healthier, but not yet whole.
Celtics vs Knicks: No. 2 Seed Race Tightens
That timing could define Boston’s final stretch. The Celtics hold the No. 2 seed for most of the season, but the margin is shrinking as the New York Knicks surge.
New York enters this stretch on a six-game winning streak, though those wins come against sub-.500 teams. Still, the pressure is real. If both teams hold position, the race could come down to their April 9 matchup in New York, a potential swing game with playoff implications.
The Knicks have already won two of the three meetings this season, giving them a slight edge in the season series.
Boston’s recent loss to Minnesota exposes some of the cracks. A 15-point fourth quarter in a 102-92 defeat highlights offensive inconsistency, especially late in games. That’s where both Vucevic’s scoring versatility and Tatum’s return to peak form become essential.
Here’s the reality: the Celtics don’t need to be perfect right now, but they do need clarity. Vucevic’s progress is real. Tatum’s return raises the ceiling. But until both are fully in sync, Boston’s grip on the No. 2 seed remains vulnerable. If Vucevic isn’t ready in time, the Celtics enter the playoffs thinner than expected and that’s a risk they can’t fully control.