BOSTON — The Celtics could have an additional boost when they face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon; Nikola Vucevic, who has been sidelined since March 6th with a right ring finger fracture, has been upgraded to questionable for the first time since first suffering the injury.
In Vucevic’s absence, Luka Garza has stepped up, averaging 9.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 17.2 minutes, while shooting 60.7% from the field and 44.7% from three. He had fallen out of the rotation after the Celtics traded
for Vucevic in mid-February; how Joe Mazzulla will divvy up the two players’ minutes remains to be seen.
Mazzulla said this week that Vucevic is important to what the Celtics will do, and praised him for how he handled himself during his recovery.
“He’s a professional. I mean, he hasn’t missed a film session, practice,” Mazzulla said. “Even two days after he had his procedure, he was out working on his cardio.”
The Raptors will be without Chucky Hepburn (right knee surgery recovery) and Immanuel Quickley (right foot plantar fasciitis), but are otherwise healthy.
How the Celtics, Raptors stack up
The Celtics and Raptors have faced off three times this season, and the Celtics have emerged victorious each time, tallying two victories in December and one in January. Now, they meet in a final matchup that could serve as a first-round preview.
The Raptors have been led by Brandon Ingram (21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists) and Scottie Barnes (18.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists), both of whom were named All-Stars this season. RJ Barrett (19.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists) has also been crucial to the team’s success.
The Celtics (52-25) have all but secured the second-best record in the East, holding a 2.5-game lead over the New York Knicks with five games left to play.
The Raptors (43-34) currently have the 6th-best record in the Eastern Conference and are 0.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers in the play-in.
Given that the No.2 seed will face the winner of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 playoff game, it’s very plausible that the Celtics will face the Raptors in the first round of the postseason.
