Celtics hit by fresh setback as Vucevic suffers finger fracture

Boston’s injury carousel spun again as Nikola Vucevic was forced out early during the Celtics’ matchup against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden. Just as Jayson Tatum finally returned to action for the 2025–26 season, Vucevic exited in the first quarter after suffering a fracture to the ring finger on his dominant right hand. The team quickly ruled him out for the remainder of the game, and the nature of the injury suggests he will miss several weeks.

It’s a tough blow for a roster that had only just begun to resemble its intended form. With Vucevic sidelined, the responsibility in the paint shifts to Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, who will be asked to anchor the interior until the veteran big man recovers. For Boston, the timing is far from ideal, as stability continues to elude a team hoping to build rhythm after a disrupted start to the campaign.