The Boston Celtics have delivered a major blow to their own frontcourt depth heading into Monday night’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks, and the news is sending shockwaves through the Hawks’ organization.
Rim-running center Neemias Queta has officially been ruled out for the game due to a right thumb sprain. The Portuguese big man, who entered the contest listed as questionable, will sit this one out after the Celtics’ medical staff determined it was in his best interest to rest.
Queta has emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the 2025-26 season. Once viewed as a fourth-string big, he has developed into a legitimate starting-caliber center, appearing in 70 regular-season games while posting strong averages of 9.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game on an elite 64% field-goal shooting.
His defensive growth has been even more impressive—he commits fewer fouls, anchors the rim as a reliable protector and deterrent, and excels in drop coverage. While there’s still room for improvement, Queta has silenced many doubters and positioned himself as a potential long-term starter for Boston.
With Queta sidelined and Nikola Vucevic still recovering from injury, Luka Garza is expected to step into the starting lineup against Atlanta. Additionally, Ron Harper Jr. (questionable with a right ankle sprain) has also been ruled out, further thinning the Celtics’ rotation.
Despite the frontcourt hit, Boston has received a timely boost: Jaylen Brown is back in action after missing the previous two games with left Achilles tendonitis. The hometown favorite (facing Atlanta) has been performing at an MVP-caliber level this season, averaging 28.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists across 65 games while shooting 47.7% from the field and 34.2% from three. His return ensures All-NBA eligibility and gives the Celtics a proven offensive leader.
On the flip side, Jayson Tatum will miss the contest as part of careful management following his return from a nearly 300-day absence due to a torn Achilles. This marks his second game off since coming back. Tatum looked sharp in Sunday’s win over the Charlotte Hornets, dropping 32 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds in what was arguably his best performance of the young season. Resting him on the second night of a back-to-back is a prudent move, especially with Brown now healthy to carry the load.
Celtics fans will be hoping Tatum returns for Wednesday’s showdown with the Miami Heat.
As the regular season winds down, Boston (currently the No. 2 seed in the East at 50-24) must keep stacking wins to solidify their playoff positioning. For the Atlanta Hawks (sitting at 42-33), this injury-riddled Celtics lineup presents a golden opportunity—but they’ll need to capitalize quickly before Boston’s stars fully align.
The Hawks are officially on high alert. A shorthanded but still dangerous Celtics squad, led by a motivated Jaylen Brown in his hometown, could prove far more resilient than expected.