The Boston Celtics had high expectations for Jayson Tatum's return to the lineup for Friday night's game against the Dallas Mavericks. But just as the team moved on from their superstar, they lost their valuable NBA trade deadline acquisition.
Nikola Vucevic came off the Celtics bench Friday night and played just two minutes without recording a single stat before getting injured. Late in the first quarter, Vucevic was attempting to post up Mavs center Moussa Cisse when he suddenly grabbed his right arm as he received the ball.
Vucevic then continued to catch the same hand multiple times and appeared to be in pain on the next few possessions, causing Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla to call a timeout.
Celtics reporter Bobby Manning was able to pinpoint the exact spot where Vucevic was hurt.
https://x.com/RealBobManning/status/2030084774170177771
The Celtics announced early in the second quarter that Vucevic would be out for the remainder of the game with a fractured right ring finger.
Nikola Vucevic was acquired by the Boston Celtics from the Chicago Bulls at the 2026 NBA trade deadline. In the deal, the Celtics traded guard Anfernee Simmons and a 2026 second-round pick to the Bulls for Vucevic and a 2027 second-round pick.
In 11 games so far with the Celtics, Vucevic has averaged 11.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 44.5 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from three.
