The Boston Celtics went full force in their Sunday, March 2 clash against the Denver Nuggets. Jaylen Brown, their star shooting guard, delivered a power-packed performance, adding 22 points in the team’s 110-103 victory. While Brown, who was questionable before the game, ultimately made his way to the final lineup, the Celtics have to make do without Jrue Holiday, the two-time NBA champion and currently the center of Boston’s defense.
The Celtics’ guard is currently sidelined due to a mallet finger injury on his right hand. He was ruled out of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which the Celtics ultimately lost 123-116. Likewise, the two-time NBA All-Star remained a spectator in the big Celtics vs. Nuggets matchup.
Holiday’s injury is certainly a concern, and his absence puts a massive dent in the Celtics defense; however, veteran shooting guard Derrick White has a strong message for the team that will surely inspire them to step up and contribute as best as possible in their coming matchups without Holiday:
Derrick White Rallies the Celtics Amidst Jrue Holiday’s Injury Reports
With Holiday sidelined, the Celtics find themselves without one of their most reliable defenders. But, White has a clear message for his team—step up and fill the void together.
“We know he’s going to do whatever he needs to do to get back as quick as possible,” White said. “Guys are going to have to step up and try to make those plays. You can’t be a Jrue Holiday, but we can all come together and do a little bit more.”
Derrick White on the Celtics needing to fill the void collectively in Jrue Holiday’s absence:
"We know he's gonna do whatever he needs to do to get back as quick as possible. Guys are gonna have to step up and try to make those plays. You can't be a Jrue Holiday, but we can all… https://t.co/f23BsgI3eC pic.twitter.com/hIpxOJesSQ
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) March 2, 2025
The injury of Holiday, a two-time NBA All-Star, is a tough blow for the team. Speaking about the injury, Holiday admitted the difficulty of dealing with it. This is what he said about his injury, according to Celtics and NBA reporter Bobby Manning.
“I’m not going to lie, I didn’t really hear of the term ‘mallet finger’ until people were telling me I had mallet finger,” Holiday said. “They just told me that I broke my finger.”
“Next thing you know,” he added, “I’m in a cast.”
“I’ve jammed a lot of fingers, but never really had this before, I don’t think,” Holiday told reporters. “I’m going to be in the splint for a while… I have to keep it straight for as long as possible.”
He further admitted that the injury has affected his ability to handle the ball, making basic movements difficult.
“Shooting, dribbling, catching, it’s probably all pretty weird,” he added.
Holiday doesn’t know how long he’ll miss: “I’ve jammed a lot of fingers, but never really had this before, I don’t think. I’m gonna be in the splint for a while… I gotta keep it straight for as long as possible.”
“Shooting, dribbling, catching, it’s probably all pretty weird.”
— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) March 2, 2025
The Celtics are currently the top contenders for the playoffs from the Eastern Conference, with a 43-18 record. However, in the absence of Holiday, they have to rethink their strategy.
White and Payton Pritchard will need to take on bigger roles in the backcourt, especially in perimeter defense. On top of that, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis will have to contribute heavily to the defense.
For now, it’s unclear how long Holiday will remain sidelined. But the situation is concerning, and Celtics fans and team management will surely want him to recover and return to the court as soon as possible.
