The Boston Celtics have dealt with a bunch of random injuries throughout the year, and in some cases, they consistently pop up on the injury report. Jaylen Brown has battled through various ailments, and Kristaps Porzingis has been a staple of the report, too. Recently, it’s been Jrue Holiday who’s been occupying the list.
Holiday missed the Celtics’ last game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he’s slated to miss their game against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday afternoon, too. His latest injury is right hand mallet finger, which, according to Cleveland Clinic, is an injury to the “the extensor tendon on the top of your finger” that “causes it to droop downward, making your finger look like a mallet.”
And based on Holiday’s latest update, it’s going to be a relatively long-term healing process.
Jrue Holiday provides new update on injury: 'Mallet finger'
Speaking with reports on Sunday afternoon, Holiday noted that the issue is in his pinkie finger. According to Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe the pinky has a small cast on it, but Holiday does not plan on getting surgery.
“He's treating the pain but offered no timetable for his return,” Washburn wrote in a tweet. “He basically said the finger is broken.”
The mallet finger Jrue Holiday is suffering is on his right pinkie finger. The finger is in a small cast and he does not plan on surgery. He's treating the pain but offered no timetable for his return. He basically said the finger is broken. #Celtics
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) March 2, 2025
Cleveland Clinic noted that the recovery time for the issue usually takes around eight weeks, unless it’s a severe case.
“Most mallet finger injuries heal with eight weeks of splinting,” the article write. “In more severe cases, it may take up to 16 weeks. After the splint comes off, your healthcare provider may give you finger exercises to practice at home, or they may refer you to a hand therapist. Full recovery may take a few more weeks to months.”
The NBA Playoffs are slated to start on April 19, which is 48 days away (a little under seven weeks). Despite that, Holiday has yet to be ruled officially “out” before a game. He’s been listed as “doubtful” and then downgraded prior to tip-off.
Considering Holiday doesn’t plan on getting surgery, it seems as though he plans on being good to go for the postseason, and perhaps even playing some more games during the regular season. However, that part of the equation is completely unclear at the moment.
Holiday has been dealing with a bunch of injuries throughout the season, but this is by far the most significant, as it seems like it could keep him off the court for a little while.