Celtics’ Latest Injury Scare Reveals a Major Truth
The Boston Celtics needed a response after a frustrating week, and they found one against the Orlando Magic. They played faster, leaned on smaller lineups, and controlled the game for long stretches. But the performance came with a moment that has lingered long after the final buzzer.
Neemias Queta rolled his left ankle early in the first quarter and never returned. He was ruled questionable at the time, but with no further update yet, it’s only natural that Celtics fans are starting to wonder what comes next.
Queta wasn’t supposed to be this important this early. Yet Boston has quietly leaned on him in ways few predicted.
And if he misses time, the Celtics might be facing a bigger question than expected.
The Celtics’ net rating this season, based on which big(s) is on the floor:
Why Queta’s Rise Has Started to Matter for the Celtics
The Celtics entered the season with a frontcourt built on role players learning on the fly, following the key departures of
His numbers tell the story.
Queta is averaging 9.3 points and 7.9 rebounds in 24.8 minutes. He’s shooting over 61 percent from the field. His defensive rating of 100.2 ranks third-best in the entire NBA
He’s protecting the rim, finishing plays, cleaning up the glass and making quicker reads in the short roll than at any point in his career. His assist rate is at a career high. None of it is flashy, but all of it helps the Celtics look more like a functioning unit when he’s out there.
It wasn’t the best game of his career, but last night was the most intense effort I’ve seen from Neemias Queta. Kept battling though foul trouble, mistakes. Gave #Celtics 11 mins., 6 pts, 4 reb in 4Q.
Revelation for the C’s. It’s unreal how good he’s been to begin this year.
Why His Absence Would Shift Boston’s Rotation
Boston were able to handle Orlando in part because the Magic were without their regular frontcourt. With
The next stretch won’t be nearly as forgiving.
Detroit, Minnesota, Cleveland and New York all play through size. They attack the paint, use multiple bigs, and force teams to match their physicality.
This is where Queta’s value becomes clearer. Boston’s net rating is a team best 21.3 with him on the floor. The structure he provides with rim protection, defensive communication, vertical spacing, and rebounding shows up in every lineup he touches.
If he does miss time, Boston will have to adapt.
Minott has shown he can hold his own as a small-ball five in the right matchups, giving the Celtics pace, pressure and chaos that can change the rhythm of a game.
None of those options mirror Queta’s exact role, but together, they give the Celtics a path to stay competitive while he recovers.
Joe Mazzulla on Neemias Queta’s 100.2 defensive rating, which is third-best in the NBA:
“I think our defense is pretty good in general. But I think he’s also really improved. Especially in his rim protection and pick-and-roll defense… He’s really grown that area.”
Waiting on the Celtics’ Official Update
Boston’s medical staff will evaluate the ankle over the next few days, and the initial designation offered some optimism. Nothing yet suggests a long-term absence. The Celtics will take the cautious route, and if Queta needs time, they’ll adjust with a combination of Minott, Garza, Boucher,
But the moment still revealed something meaningful about this roster.
Queta has turned himself into a meaningful piece of Boston’s structure, and the Celtics will be cautious as they wait for more information on his ankle.
His injury may not be serious, but the pause it created was telling. It showed how important his growth has been, and how quickly a role can become essential in a season like this.
Lakers Named ‘Ideal’ Spot for All-Defensive Wing on Trade Market
The New Orleans Pelicans (3-15) are widely expected to shop most of their veterans ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, with the franchise preparing to build around the talented young duo of
LakeShow Life’s Svyatoslav Rovenchuk believes Jones would be the “ideal trade target” for a Lakers team that desperately lacks an athletic wing defender.
“It would be disappointing to see Jones waste away in New Orleans for another year,” wrote Rovenchuk.
“The mold of player he is would answer exactly what Rob Pelinka has been on the hunt for since the offseason. Jones is the type of 3-and-D star who would immediately raise the Lakers’ ceiling. His $13.9 million makes him an easy player to match salaries for as well.”
Lakers: Servicable on Defense
The Lakers, who rank 14th in defensive efficiency, don’t exactly have the personnel to turn into a top-five or even top-eight team. In Austin Reaves and
Marcus Smart has been a savior for the Lakers defensively, as JJ Redick’s team has conceded 105.7 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor, and nearly 10 more points when he goes to the bench. However, Smart remains an offensive liability, which has prevented Redick from playing him more than 25-27 minutes per night.
Herb Jones would instantly give Redick another quality perimeter stopper.
“At his best, the former All-NBA Defensive First Team member can erase an opposing superstar from a game altogether. Luka Doncic, himself, once described him as one of the ‘biggest headaches’ he’s had to deal with,” reminded Rovenchuk.
An Improved Shooter
Jones is making a career-high 1.6 threes per game this season, at a decent clip of 36.2 percent. That number will surely increase when the elite playmaking trio of James, Doncic and Reaves is setting him for threes, instead of a rookie in New Orleans.
The only issue for the Lakers would be the Pelicans’ asking price. With front-office head Joe Dumars inexplicably trading away their 2026 unprotected first-round pick, the Pelicans would likely seek at least one future first-rounder from the Lakers.
“The question here is: What is the price, and how comfortable are the Lakers with paying it?” asked Rovenchuk.
“Jones would solidify Los Angeles as contenders. [Rob] Pelinka would need to know just how much Joe Dumars values his defensive star.”
