BOSTON — Sam Hauser sprained his right ankle late in the third quarter of the Celtics’ Game 1 matchup against the Knicks. The Celtics have listed him as questionable to return.
The injury occurred Hauser fouled Knicks forward OG Anunoby on a three-point attempt with 29 seconds left in the third quarter. He immediately crouched on the ground in pain, and was helped to the locker room by Celtics trainer Drew Moore shortly after.
Hauser did not play in the first half of Monday’s game. He checked in with 4:26 left in the third quarter, and missed both of his three-point attempts upon checking in. Hauser averaged 8.5 points per game on 45.1% shooting in 21.7 minutes for the Celtics this season — including hitting 41.6% from three.
Hauser became the second Celtics rotation player to prematurely leave Monday’s game. Kristaps Porzingis left the game midway through the second quarter with what the Celtics have described as a non-COVID illness. Porzingis is also questionable to return.
