Boston Celtics starting point guard Jrue Holiday, who has not played since March 17 due to a right shoulder joint strain that has caused “dead arm,” remains out, with no timetable set for his return, multiple outlets reported.
Holiday, who has earned first-team NBA All-Defensive Team honors in three of the past six seasons, sustained the injury when he hit the Washington Wizards’ Richaun Holmes, who was setting a screen. Holiday came out of the game a few minutes later and has not played since.
“I still want to play. That’s part of the reason I play basketball. But it’s also keeping rhythm. Sometimes, when you’re out for a long time, you break rhythm, but I feel like I’ve been in a good groove and I want to continue to play,” Holiday told The Boston Globe.
Coach Joe Mazzulla said Holiday is “in good shape. He’s doing well. He’s getting better.”
The 15-year veteran and two-time All-Star is averaging 12.8 points per game, the lowest since his rookie season with the Philadelphia 76ers. But he is on pace for career highs in 3-point shooting (44.5 percent) and rebounds (5.4), to go with 4.9 assists.
The Celtics have built a league-best 57-14 record, leading the Eastern Conference by 11 1/2 games. They have clinched a postseason berth and will win the Eastern Conference title with either their next win or a loss by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Their next game is Monday night for the first of two games against the Hawks in Atlanta.
Holiday played four seasons for the Philadelphia 76ers, seven for the New Orleans Pelicans and three for the Milwaukee Bucks, winning the 2021 NBA title.
In a three-team deal on Sept. 27, Milwaukee traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers. Less than a week later, Portland sent him to Boston for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams and multiple draft picks.
–Field Level Media