On a night when Jayson Tatum looked human for the first time since returning from an Achilles injury, and Jaylen Brown couldn’t find his shooting rhythm, the Boston Celtics turned to an unlikely hero: Luka Garza.
The backup center scored 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting in 27 minutes, grabbed eight rebounds, and helped the Celtics grind out a 118-110 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. It was their fourth straight win, but it came with a dose of uncertainty.
Because Garza’s moment in the spotlight might be short-lived.
The Vucevic Timeline
According to NBC Sports Boston, the Celtics now have a clearer picture of when Nikola Vučević will return from the fractured finger that has sidelined him since March 6.
Per Bobby Manning of CLNS Sports: “NBC Sports Boston reporting Vucevic will have an X-Ray in a week and return to contact, play in the final few regular season games if all goes well.”
Vučević underwent surgery on March 7 to repair the ring finger on his right hand. The initial recovery timeline was three to four weeks, which would have put him back on the floor as early as March 27. That’s not happening. The X-ray is scheduled for March 27, and he’ll need additional time before he’s cleared for game action.
The Celtics have a four-game road trip from March 29 through April 3—Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami, Milwaukee—before returning home on April 5. It’s possible Vučević could play on that trip, but the Celtics may opt to be cautious, letting him rest until the final week of the season.
Boston plays four of its last five games at home, with the only road game coming April 9 in New York.
The Garza Emergence
In the meantime, Garza has made the most of his opportunity.
Since stepping in as the backup center during Vučević’s absence, Garza has averaged 8.3 points on 54.8% shooting from the field and an eye-popping 46.7% from three-point range. Friday’s 22-point outburst was his highest scoring game since 2023.
It’s the kind of production that makes a coach think twice about rotation decisions.
“He’s been ready every time we’ve called his name,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said after the game. “That’s what you want from your depth.”
The Vucevic Adjustment
When Vučević returns, he’ll be stepping into a role he’s never played before in his 14-year career: backup center.
The two-time All-Star has started 99% of his games (837 of 845) over his career. But when he arrived in Boston via trade at the deadline, Mazzulla had a conversation with him about coming off the bench.
“When I got to Boston, talking to Joe, he had mentioned that and I told him I was open to it,” Vučević said. “I didn’t mind if my role would be different, if I would come off the bench, if my minutes were different. He asked me to be flexible, to start off the bench and see how it goes. And figure out the minutes and everything.”
The Celtics want to keep Neemias Queta in the starting lineup. The 7-foot center has been a revelation this season, providing rim protection, rebounding, and a developing pick-and-roll chemistry with Tatum.
That means Vučević—a career 19.3-point-per-game scorer—will be asked to provide scoring punch off the bench.
The Numbers
In 12 games with the Celtics (11 off the bench), Vučević is averaging 10.4 points and 7.2 rebounds. His shooting percentage (44.5%) is a career low, and the adjustment to a new role, new teammates, and a new system hasn’t been seamless.
The finger injury made the transition even harder.
But when he returns, the Celtics will have a frontcourt rotation that includes Queta, Vučević, and Garza—a combination of size, shooting, and energy that could be formidable in the playoffs.
The Garza Question
So what happens to Garza when Vučević returns?
Mazzulla has a decision to make. Garza has earned minutes. He’s shooting nearly 47% from three, spacing the floor in ways that Vučević can. He’s a different player—more of a scoring threat, less of a traditional rebounder—but he’s proven he can contribute.
The Celtics have four centers on the roster: Queta, Porziņģis (when healthy), Vučević, and Garza. In the playoffs, rotations shorten. Not everyone plays.
Garza may find himself on the outside looking in again. But he’s made his case.
What’s Next
The Celtics host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday—Garza’s former team. It’s a chance for the backup center to continue his hot streak against the franchise that drafted him.
And it’s another opportunity to remind Mazzulla that when Vučević returns, Garza shouldn’t be forgotten.
The Bottom Line
The Celtics are winning. They’ve won four straight and sit comfortably as the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Tatum is back. Brown is playing at an MVP level. The defense is elite.
But the rotation is still unsettled. Vučević is coming back. Garza has made his mark. And Mazzulla has to figure out how to fit all the pieces together.
For now, Garza gets to enjoy the spotlight. He’s earned it.
When Vučević returns, the minutes will be harder to come by. But if Friday night was any indication, Garza won’t go quietly.