According to Boston Celtics PR, Sam Hauser is QUESTIONABLE to return to Game 1 vs. the New York Knicks due to a right ankle sprain. Hauser got hurt while contesting an OG Anunoby three-point attempt with 0:29 left in the third quarter. He fouled Anunoby on the play, giving up three free throws to the Knicks forward. Hauser was helped off the floor and back to the locker room by Celtics trainers.
Hauser did not log any minutes in the first half of Game 1 but was given a chance to play in the third quarter, likely because Kristaps Porzingis was ruled questionable to return due to an illness.
Two absences in one game for Boston.
What does losing Sam Hauser mean for Celtics vs. Knicks?
In his very limited Game 1 minutes, prior to going out with an injury, Hauser logged just 3:58. In that time, he shot 0-of-2 from the floor, both three-point attempts.
Hauser hasn't played a ton of minutes so far during this Celtics postseason run, though he did enjoy a successful Game 5 to help Boston close-out their first round series against the Orlando Magic. He had 10 points and two rebounds in that game, shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from the field, including 2-of-2 from beyond the three-point arc.
Losing Hauser means the Celtics will have to rely on their starters to play even more minutes throughout the series, should the bench forward miss additional time with his ankle issue.
Why did Kristaps Porzingis leave Game 1 of Celtics vs. Knicks?
As for the other Celtic who left Game 1, Porzingis only played 12:58. He shot 0-of-4 in his minutes, carrying over his struggles from the Magic series into the second round.
Porzingis was noticeably absent from the Celtics' bench for much of the second quarter after he subbed out at the 7:34 mark. He came out at half-time for a brief period before returning to the locker room to start the third quarter. Al Horford started in his place. Celtics PR revealed that Porzingis was questionable to return due to a non-Covid illness.
In March of this season, Porzingis missed eight games with an illness, but it's unclear if his current ailment is the same one that held him out a couple of months ago.
With Porzingis and Hauser sidelined, there's even more pressure on the rest of the Celtics to play additional minutes against a star-studded Knicks team.