Marcus Smart was sidelined for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart remains probable to return from a right mid-foot sprain for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, coach Ime Udoka told reporters Thursday morning. Additionally, the Celtics announced veteran center Al Horford is questionable for the game.
Marcus Smart has to test his foot pregame but is still listed as probable.
— Marc D’Amico (@Marc_DAmico) May 19, 2022
#NEBHInjuryReport update:
Al Horford – QUESTIONABLE https://t.co/zWfThLYOxh
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 19, 2022
Boston was without Smart and Horford for its 118-107 loss to the Miami Heat in Game 1 on Tuesday. Horford entered the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols and has been upgraded from doubtful to questionable for tonight’s Game 2 (8:30 ET, ESPN).
Additionally, the Celtics announced Wednesday that Udoka is dealing with a non-COVID illness, but he told reporters Thursday he is doing better now.
Boston was already bracing for Smart — the league’s Kia Defensive Player of the Year — to be out for Game 1, after he injured his foot on Sunday in Game 7 of Boston’s East semifinals win over Milwaukee. But losing Horford was a surprise blow to the Celtics, adding to the team’s lineup dilemma.
Udoka said Tuesday he initially found out about Horford’s status around 5 p.m. that day, or roughly 3 1/2 hours before tip-off. He would not say if Horford tested positive.
Game Recap: Heat 118, Celtics 107 (Miami leads series, 1-0)
Horford averaged 13.0 points and a team-best 10.4 rebounds in the Celtics’ seven-game win over Milwaukee, starting all those contests. This is the start of Horford’s third stint in the protocols this season; he missed time in the preseason and Boston’s season opener, then missed five more games in December.
Typically, it has taken players who test positive a minimum of five days to escape the protocols. The teams will play every other day in this series and Boston hosts Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday, respectively.
Smart played in six of the seven games against Milwaukee. He missed Game 2 because of a quad injury. Then came the foot issue, causing the Celtics to originally list Smart as questionable on their injury report — though Udoka cautioned after the team’s morning shootaround Tuesday that he was still dealing with considerable soreness. Overall, he is averaging 15 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game in the 2022 playoffs.
Derrick White was added to the starting lineup in Smart’s place, and Grant Williams was starting in place of Horford.
The Celtics are 5-9 without Horford this season and 5-8 without Smart.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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