Marcus Smart likely out tonight against Philadelphia 76ers

Marcus Smart is reportedly unlikely to play in tonight's matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers.


Smart, who rolled both ankles after colliding with Jaylen Brown, takes the Boston Celtics thin rotation down to frighteningly low levels. Already down one of their best players after Gordon Hayward's terrible injury in the season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team is also missing likely starter Marcus Morris to knee soreness. Said Smart about the specifics of the injury (per the Boston Herald's Mark Murphy):

"[It was] the right ankle. And the left, actually. Both of them. [...] it’s the third game of the season so we’re just trying to take every precaution and every step that we need necessary to make sure that when I do come back, if I do not play tonight, my health will be 100 percent [...] It was a scary fall with Jaylen coming into my leg right there and rolling my ankle [...] my ankle got caught right under him. Kind of a freak accident. [...] It was pretty swollen when I woke up the next morning. So we’re just taking it easy. It’s a long season."

Given how thin the rotation already is - especially given the injury bug seems only to be biting guys in heavy rotation - it's clearly a wise move. I know nobody wants to hear this right now, but it's better to risk going 0-3 to start the season than have a hobbled Smart (or Morris) over much of the regular season.

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Image: AP Photo/Chris Szagola
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