Neemias Queta left the Celtics game against the Magic on Sunday with a left ankle sprain. The starting center appeared to suffer the injury after a collision midway through the first quarter with Anthony Black. Queta was chasing down a Magic fast break before landing awkwardly on his left leg while contesting Black.
Queta was whistled for a shooting foul on the play and immediately came up limping after landing. The Celtics inserted Chris Boucher to replace him immediately as Queta headed back to the locker room with a Boston trainer. The team said he would be questionable to return from the ailment in Sunday’s game.
The Celtics starting center was in the midst of a strong start to the game before the injury, posting six points and two rebounds in just six minutes including makes on all three of his field goal attempts.
Queta has been a bright spot so far during Boston’s 8-8 start to the year, averaging career-highs in points (9.5) and rebounds (8.3) per game while taking off the starting center role. He’s been among the team leaders in plus/ minus all season as well, which would make his loss to an injury a major obstacle for Boston’s frontcourt to overcome. Without him, Boston reserves like Boucher and Xavier Tillman would be in line for more minutes along with usual backup center Luka Garza.
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