Celtics rookie center Amari Williams will miss at least one game with a hairline fracture in his right hand.
Boston ruled the 2025 second-round draft pick out for Thursday’s road game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Big man Chris Boucher (illness) and wing Ron Harper Jr. (right knee sprain) also were ruled out, as was rehabbing superstar Jayson Tatum (Achilles).
Williams, who is on a two-way contract, saw the first meaningful minutes of his NBA career when he filled in for injured starter Neemias Queta in a Nov. 26 win over the Detroit Pistons. The Kentucky product logged 15 minutes in that game and six in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers four days later, which Queta also missed as he nursed an ankle sprain. In the latter, Williams contested a last-second miss by Cavs center Evan Mobley that would have forced overtime.
Since Queta’s return to the lineup, Williams has played sparingly, though he did dress for each of the Celtics’ last four games.
It’s unclear when Williams suffered his injury, nor how severe it is. He and Harper, a fellow two-way who’s posted strong numbers for Boston’s G League team in Maine, both were on the court when the Celtics opened their doors to reporters after Wednesday’s practice.
Losing Williams limits Boston’s size in the frontcourt, as he and Queta are the only 7-footers on the roster. Head coach Joe Mazzulla has leaned into smaller lineups of late, however, frequently deploying a wing like 6-foot-8 Josh Minott at center when Queta is off the floor.
Luka Garza, Queta’s primary backup for the first month of the season, only played in garbage time over the last five games. Xavier Tillman also has been limited to mop-up duty outside of his one impressive start against Cleveland, during which he tallied nine points, six rebounds, three steals and one block in 30 minutes. Boucher hasn’t seen the floor since Nov. 23.
“We’re going to have play small ball,” guard Payton Pritchard said after Wednesday’s practice. “We’re not the biggest team. I think Neemi’s our only 7-footer, besides Amari. So we’re going to have to go small ball and learn how to play. But it’s been effective.”
