Dude, did you see Neemias Queta leave Portugal’s FIBA World Cup Qualifying win over Spain on Friday? It was gnarly! The man was in the middle of a monster 16-point, nine-rebound performance against an NBA-experienced Spanish squad when he hobbled off the floor in the fourth quarter with what looked like a serious leg injury.
Queta’s Monster Performance Comes with a Scare
Queta was absolutely tearing it up, shooting 50 percent from the floor and going a perfect 6-for-6 from the line. He even snagged two steals in Portugal’s 95-89 victory over a Spanish team that included his own Boston Celtics teammate, Hugo González. With 9:17 left in regulation, Queta was sprinting in transition, threw down a monstrous right-handed dunk, and then everyone saw his left ankle in the air as he hobbled. That moment had NBA Twitter, and honestly, every Celtics fan, holding their breath. The 27-year-old was in the midst of finalizing an elite performance, but the anticipation for his availability against Georgia on Monday was instantly halted.
“Zero Risk”: Portugal’s Coach Drops the News
Good news just dropped though! Portugal’s head coach Mário Gomes basically said, “Zero risk.” He told reporters that while the extent of the injury remains unknown, the decision to pull Queta was purely precautionary. Gomes made it clear: “We still don’t know if he has any problems or not, but we decided not to take any risks. Zero risk. Not only because we have a game on Monday, but also because it’s his life and, for me, as a coach, the players’ health comes first.” The medical staff determined there was enough concern, a “real risk,” to warrant taking him out of the game. That’s a huge sigh of relief.
This offseason, Queta locked down a big four-year, $56 million extension with the Celtics after the biggest breakout of his career. He played a critical role as a first-year starting center during Boston’s (mostly) Jayson Tatum-less season, logging 75 starts in 76 appearances. His likelihood of returning as Coach Joe Mazzulla’s starting center this upcoming season remains high. With the Celtics’ 2026-27 season opener a little more than seven weeks away, you know taking every necessary precaution is essential.
Queta’s readiness for Portugal’s next matchup in Matosinhos against Georgia on Monday is still unknown. But for Celtics fans, Gomes’ “zero risk” stance is massive. It means they’re protecting their investment, making sure their big man is ready to roll when the real grind of the NBA season kicks off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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