After a dominant showing in Game 2, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 109-86, the Boston Celtics now have until Saturday to recoup, which means an improved chance that Marcus Smart will make his return for the Celtics in the second round.
Smart was sidelined for the Celtics Game 2 win after suffering a quad contusion in the team’s Game 1 loss last Sunday. In his weekly local radio interview, President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens spoke on Smart’s progression toward a potential Game 3 return.
“Marcus was in the gym yesterday on an off day for the rest of our team,” Stevens said. “He got some work in the weight room. It looked like he had a little better bend. That was the thing, he had enough swelling in his quad that he didn’t have the ideal ability to really get low and bend.
“It looked like he was doing a little bit better yesterday. I don’t know what he’s going to be cleared to do in practice today but we’ll see as the days go on. We’re hopeful but not certain (about his Game 3 availability).”
After practice today, Smart told the media his quad had started to feel better while swelling had been subsiding slowly.
Marcus Smart says he’s starting to feel better and that some of the swelling has gone down around his quad: “Just taking it day by day.”
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 5, 2022
With the series tied one a piece, Smarts return for the Celtics could heavily aid in their potential snagging of Game 3 on Saturday night.
