Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics
Celtics Lose Key Contributor Sam Hauser for Game 4 Against Knicks
Boston faces critical test without sharpshooter in pivotal road matchup
The Boston Celtics will be without a crucial piece of their rotation when they take the floor for Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the New York Knicks.
Sharpshooting forward Sam Hauser has officially been ruled out for Monday night’s contest due to a sprained right ankle, marking his third consecutive missed game. The 27-year-old injured the ankle in Game 1 and was seen limping off the court before heading to the locker room. Since then, he’s been listed as day-to-day.
The news, confirmed by Celtics reporter Jared Weiss on X (formerly Twitter), means Boston will once again need to dig into its depth as it looks to maintain control of the series. Hauser’s next chance to suit up will be Game 5, scheduled for Wednesday night at TD Garden.
While not a starter, Hauser’s role is far from minor. The Virginia product has become one of the league’s more reliable floor spacers off the bench, knocking down over 40% of his three-point attempts during the regular season. His ability to stretch defenses and provide clean looks for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown makes him a key cog in Joe Mazzulla’s offense.
In Hauser’s absence, the Celtics have leaned on Luke Kornet for size and rim protection, while Payton Pritchard has offered energy and scoring pop from the perimeter. Both players could see an uptick in minutes once again in Game 4, as the Celtics look to head back to Boston with a commanding 3-1 lead—or avoid coming home deadlocked at two games apiece.
Boston has handled Hauser’s absence well so far, but as the series grinds deeper, every rotational edge matters. The Celtics will hope to survive one more game without their sharpshooter—and get him back on the floor when the series returns to home court.
Will the Celtics’ depth continue to step up in Hauser’s absence?
