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Celtics Jared Sullinger 'Going To Be Out A While'

BOSTON (CBS) -- If the Boston Celtics want to make a second half push for the playoffs, they'll likely have to do it without big man Jared Sullinger.

Sullinger is out indefinitely with a stress reaction in his left foot, the team announced Thursday.

Sullinger, Boston's leading scorer this season at 14.4 points per game, started experiencing discomfort in the foot the day after the team's win over the Atlanta Hawks before the All-Star break. He took himself out of practice on Wednesday in Sacramento, and X-Rays on Thursday revealed the injury.

"Jared is going to be out a while," Celtics coach Brad Stevens told reporters on Thursday. "Supposedly it happened in the Atlanta game and he was talking a little bit about it [Wednesday], with regard to feeling some discomfort and so he went through a little bit of practice, then pulled himself out. [Trainer] Ed [Lacerte] took him to get the X-ray, so that's not good news on the Jared front, that's for sure.

"He's not going to play on this trip, and I don't anticipate him playing any time soon," added Stevens.

"They didn't tell me a lot, they just told me I'd be out a little bit," Sullinger said. "It sucks, honestly. Especially with the type of [playoff] push we're trying to make. For me to not be a part of it on the court -- I'm trying to help the team from different angles."

Even with Sullinger, the Celtics' depth in the front court was extremely thin. Now with Sullinger sidelined, and Kelly Olynyk still recovering from a sprained ankle, expect more of Tyler Zeller and Brandon Bass on the court together when Boston doesn't utilize a small lineup.

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