The news on the ankle injury sustained by Boston Celtics rookie Marcus Smart Friday night wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been, but he will be out two to three weeks.
Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics will be out two to three weeks with a sprained left ankle and a bone bruise, according to reports on Saturday.
According to Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald, via Twitter:
Smart was hurt in the fourth quarter of the Celtics’ 101-98 win over the Indiana Pacers. He was driving to the basket and went down without contact.
More from Boston Celtics
- Predicting NBA’s Christmas Day Schedule: Lakers, Warriors highlight slate of postseason rematches
- Jaylen Brown signs richest contract in NBA history without a left hand
- Boston Celtics projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season
- David Griffin thanks rival Celtics for leverage in Anthony Davis trade talks
- NBA rumors: Damian Lillard trade becoming more trouble than it’s worth for Celtics
He was off to a solid start, emerging as a key backup at both guard positions and a tenacious defender.
The sixth overall pick out of Oklahoma State in June, Smart is averaging 6.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 20.4 minutes per game, shooting .306/.240/1.000 in his five games.
The Celtics seem to have dodged a bullet on this one, because the injury looked very bad at first glance:
“Hopefully he can get back sooner rather than later,” coach Brad Stevens told reporters, via the Boston Globe. “Because he’s really playing great basketball and I’m sure it’s really disappointing to be out five games into your rookie year, even if just for a little bit of time.”
Smart was a consensus All-American as a freshman at Oklahoma State in 2012-13, but opted to return to the Cowboys as a sophomore. He averaged 18 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.9 steals per game last season, but was also involved in an ugly incident at Texas Tech, where he shoved a fan on the end line late in an upset loss.
He was suspended three games for the incident.
More from FanSided
- NFL rumors: Aaron Rodgers sets Jets up for Super Bowl run with new contract
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers land Amed Rosario from Guardians
- Colorado gives Pac-12 a possible death knell with move to Big 12
- NFL rumors: Dalvin Cook suitor maintaining very ‘real’ interest
- Braves get dose of bad news on Max Fried as ace nears return