BOSTON — The Boston Celtics have received a major boost heading into Sunday afternoon’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors, as Nikola Vucevic has been upgraded to questionable for the first time since suffering a right ring finger fracture on March 6.
The surprise development has injected fresh optimism into the Celtics’ locker room. Vucevic’s potential return could significantly strengthen Boston’s frontcourt as they prepare for what might be a first-round playoff preview against Toronto.
In Vucevic’s absence, undrafted big man Luka Garza has stepped up impressively, posting 9.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game off the bench. He has shot a scorching 60.7% from the field and 44.7% from three-point range. However, Garza had fallen out of the regular rotation shortly after the Celtics acquired Vucevic in mid-February, leaving questions about how head coach Joe Mazzulla will manage the minutes between the two.
Mazzulla spoke highly of Vucevic’s professionalism during his recovery, calling him a true pro who hasn’t missed a single film session or practice. “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 shorthanded, missing Chucky Hepburn (recovering from right knee surgery) and Immanuel Quickley (right foot plantar fasciitis), though the rest of their roster is healthy.
How the teams stack up
The Celtics have dominated the season series, winning all three previous meetings against Toronto — two in December and one in January.
Toronto has been powered this season by All-Stars Brandon Ingram (21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists) and Scottie Barnes (18.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists), along with strong contributions from RJ Barrett (19.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists).
The Celtics sit at 52-25, all but locked into the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 2.5-game lead over the New York Knicks and just five games remaining. The Raptors, at 43-34, currently hold the No. 6 spot and are half a game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers in the play-in picture.
With the No. 2 seed set to face the winner of the 7-vs-8 play-in game, a first-round postseason showdown between these two teams is looking increasingly likely. Sunday’s game could offer an early taste of what that matchup might look like — especially if Vucevic makes his long-awaited return.