UPDATE #3: Smart has been ruled out Thursday vs. the 76ers and will miss his third straight game with an eye infection. Gordon Hayward is probable after being hit in the nose last night, so the Celtics should roll out the same starting lineup tonight. With no Smart, Brad Wanamaker should pick up more minutes as the backup PG again.
UPDATE #2: Smart has been ruled out for a second straight game tonight vs. the Pacers.
Romeo Langford returns from an ankle sprain tonight, but Smart and Time Lord remains out per Celtics.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) December 11, 2019
Robert Williams (hip) will also remain out of the lineup. Rookie Romeo Langford will be available to play and make his NBA debut for the Celtics. The 2019 first-round pick provides another guard option off the bench for Brad Stevens. It’s unclear what Langford’s role will be, so we’ll have to wait and see.
UPDATE: Smart did not attend shootaround and remains questionable for Wednesday night’s game vs. the Pacers.
Celtis guard Marcus Smart (left eye infection) remained at the hotel during team shootaround.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) December 11, 2019
Brad Stevens: “The eye is getting a little bit better and (he’s) feeling under the weather, so I don’t know what that means for tonight’s game.”
Usually when a player isn’t able to attend shootaround, they are closer to doubtful, but this isn’t a normal injury we’re dealing with. It seems like Smart will be closer to a game-time call than questionable, but we’ll see. For now, proceed with caution on Smart and continue to monitor updates.
Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart is questionable to play Wednesday vs. the Indiana Pacers.
Marcus Smart is questionable vs Indy. Robert Williams remains out.
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) December 10, 2019
Also on the injury report is Robert Williams (hip) aka Time Lord, who has already been ruled out. Smart was unable to go in Monday’s game vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers, but with Gordon Hayward back, he slid right into Smart’s spot in the starting lineup.
Fantasy Basketball Analysis: Boston Celtics PG/SG Marcus Smart
With Smart out on Monday, the Celtics opted to bring Hayward right back into the starting 5 and he provided a nice boost. In DFS, Hayward was $3,000 on DraftKings on Monday and returned huge value. We can expect his price to go up, but he still may be a decent option with no minutes restriction in a more competitive environment vs. Indiana. Even if Smart is able to play, he’ll likely come off the bench, cutting into Brad Wanamaker and Semi Ojeleye’s minutes. Hayward and Smart are likely owned in season-long, but are decent waiver wire pickups if available.