BOSTON — After missing more than a month with an ankle injury, Kelly Olynyk finally is ready to return to action for the Celtics.
Head coach Brad Stevens confirmed before Wednesday’s game that Olynyk would be available off the bench as the Celtics host the Utah Jazz at TD Garden.
“It definitely was a long time,” Olynyk said. “It’s tough. (But) I did some damage to it, and I wanted to make sure it was good and that I could come back and help.”
The second-year center severely sprained his ankle Jan. 22 during a win over the Portland Trail Blazers and has missed Boston’s last 18 games. Stevens said Olynyk will not be under any minutes restriction but acknowledged that it might take the big man a little while to get back into game shape.
“I don’t know what to expect,” Stevens said. “I watched him play 3-on-3 (Tuesday), and he looked good to me. Hopefully, he can give us what he gives us, and that is a skilled offensive guy and a guy defensively with some size.”
That size certainly will help the Celtics against the Jazz — a long group that has dominated opponents defensively of late while winning seven of its last nine games. Olynyk’s last game action came before the Celtics revamped their bench by adding Isaiah Thomas and Jonas Jerebko at the trade deadline, but Stevens is confident the 7-footer will be able to integrate seamlessly.
“One of Kelly’s best attributes as a player is he can play with any lineup,” the coach said. “No matter what the skill set of the guy next to him on the front line is, he complements that person. If it’s a rim-roller and not a skilled guy, he complements him. If it’s a skilled guy, it’s just another skilled guy on the court. That’s his greatest strength, in my opinion.”
Stevens believes Olynyk, Thomas, Jerebko and Jae Crowder all can play together, with Crowder and Jerebko shifting back to their more natural spots at the three and the four. Crowder and Jerebko have been playing up at the four and five at times as part of a super-small lineup that enjoyed success during Boston’s recent three-game win streak.
Olynyk has played in 40 games this season, averaging 11.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
