The Boston Celtics will be without one of their best defensive players to start the playoffs.
Marcus Smart went down with what was originally thought to be a minor contusion on April 7, in a game against the Orlando Magic.
Marcus Smart will not return to the game due to a left hip contusion from this play (@AAANe_MAnews) #AAANortheast pic.twitter.com/4zVVfp1gwo
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) April 8, 2019
That injury turns out to be a torn left oblique, and he will miss extended time per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Marcus Smart has suffered a torn oblique on left side and could be sidelined for the first two rounds of the playoffs, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 10, 2019
Smart’s absence likely means more pressure on Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier, who will have to share his workload of 27.5 minutes per game.
The 6-foot-4 point guard was averaging career highs in both field goal and three-point percentage, at 42.2 and 36.4 respectively.
