BOSTON — Jrue Holiday missed the last three games, but he made his return to the court Tuesday against the Raptors. He’s been slowed down by what the team called right shoulder impingement. Holiday said it’ll likely be an injury that will linger going forward, though he added “I think it’s manageable.”
Regardless, the Celtics need a healthy Holiday going forward. The guard’s impact was noticeable from tipoff as the Celtics dominated the Raptors in a huge blowout win on New Year’s Eve. It was a team-wide effort, but his teammates also acknowledged how much having Holiday back helps.
“It felt good to be back,” Holiday said. “The shoulder’s okay. It sucks to sit out, so it felt great to be back and obviously be in this arena and play in front of the fans in the last game of the New Year. I think it was just a hit or something like that where my shoulder just kind of felt weird, and then over time, it just got worse and worse.”
The guards all stepped up for the Celtics throughout Tuesday’s game. Holiday finished with 14 points, four assists and three steals, including a 4-for-5 showing from 3. Derrick White put up 16 points, four rebounds and four blocks. Payton Pritchard shot hot off the bench, shooting 5-for-7 from 3 on his way to 19 points and six rebounds.
The C’s got a much-needed get-right game Tuesday against a struggling squad in the Raptors. They have a tough January coming up that features multiple long road trips and quality opponents. Fortunately, they emptied their bench early as part of a 54-point win over the Raptors.
While Holiday returned to the court Tuesday, the C’s aren’t fully healthy yet. Kristaps Porzingis missed his third straight game with a left ankle sprain as he’s looking to get back to contributing. But Holiday’s impact was felt throughout Tuesday’s win as the C’s regroup for their upcoming four-game road trip to start off 2025.
“Jrue’s just one of the best, if not the best, all-time on-ball guard defenders that I’ve seen,” Payton Pritchard said. “Every time he’s in the lineup, it just helps. His impact. Obviously, offensively, he hits timely shots, big moments, great passes. We love to have him back.”
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