The Boston Celtics announced that they will be without veteran starting point guard Marcus Smart with a hand laceration for the second consecutive game as they head home to TD Garden to take on the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday night.
Their second meeting of the season — the first an embarrassing loss to an undermanned Clips roster — has both teams without a number of players in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, and Smart’s injury only makes things tougher for the Celtics. Sustained in Boston’s recent loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, head coach Ime Udoka confirmed the Flower Mound native will not be playing against Los Angeles.
“The laceration is still there and painful,” related Udoka ahead of the game.
“(Smart) doesn’t have a lot of grip or touch, but should be back soon. It’s a short-term thing that (he) should be (back) next game or so,” he added.
#NEBHInjuryReport update: Marcus Smart is OUT tonight.
Per Coach Udoka: "The laceration is still there and painful. Doesn’t have a lot of grip or touch, but should be back soon. It’s a short-term thing that (he) should be (back) next game or so."https://t.co/h9KVkT05HG
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 29, 2021
With how thin the Celtics already are at the moment, they’ll need him back on the floor as soon as he can manage it.
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
