Celtics vs. Grizzlies: Injury Reports Reveal Major Roster Imbalance
Nikola Vucevic will miss his seventh straight game when the Celtics visit Memphis on Friday night. Jayson Tatum and the rest of Boston’s rotation are available.
Celtics availability and recent form
Vucevic suffered a fractured right ring finger on March 6. The team said he would be re-evaluated in three to four weeks.
The re-check window runs roughly March 27 to April 3. The regular season ends April 12, leaving limited time for a return.
Jayson Tatum returned to the lineup on March 6. He has missed only one game since that return.
Tatum is averaging 20.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. Jaylen Brown leads the club with 28.5 points, seven rebounds, and 5.1 assists.
Grizzlies injury reports and roster imbalance
Memphis enters the game with a long injury list. Multiple players are out for the season or listed as doubtful.
- Kentavius Caldwell-Pope — right pinky finger (season shut down)
- Zach Edey — left ankle (season shut down)
- Scotty Pippen Jr. — right big toe (season shut down)
- Santi Aldama — right knee (season shut down)
- Brandon Clarke — right calf strain (out)
- Jahmai — left ankle sprain (out)
- Ja Morant — left elbow UCL sprain (out)
- Taj Gibson — right foot soreness (doubtful)
- GG Jackson — left knee soreness (doubtful)
Those absences have created a clear roster imbalance. The Celtics vs. Grizzlies matchup is being shaped by these injury reports.
Rookie Cedric Coward has stepped up for Memphis. He averages 13.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
Team form and series context
Boston is on a three-game winning streak and sits at 46-23. Memphis is 24-44 and has lost eight of its last ten.
The last meeting came in November. The Celtics won that game 131-95.
The game tips at 8 p.m. at Memphis’ FedEx Forum. For continued coverage, visit Filmogaz.com.
