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May 25 update: Smart is available for Game 5 against the Heat after missing Game 4 with the ankle sprain. The swelling has come down enough for him to suit up, and he’s likely to start over Derrick White. Look for White to still get significant minutes after a strong showing in Game 4.
May 24 update: Smart is listed as questionable and the Celtics will have to hope the swelling around his ankle can subside before he’s deemed fit to play. The Defensive Player of the Year watched Boston grab a much-needed win in Game 4, but he’ll be needed if the Celtics want to win this series.
May 23 update: Smart has been ruled out for Game 4 against the Heat with an ankle sprain. He did return to Game 3 after suffering the injury initially, but clearly the long-term implications are too much for Boston to risk him in this game. The Celtics are in a must-win situation, but Smart’s health is paramount. He’ll be sitting out Monday night.
Marcus Smart is OUT tonight for Game 4 (right ankle sprain), per #Celtics
— C. (@ChelseaSherrod) May 23, 2022
Robert Williams returns after missing Game 3.
May 22 update: Smart is listed as questionable for Game 4 after suffering an ankle sprain in Game 3. He did come back to the contest after suffering the injury, but one has to wonder if he did further damage to his ankle by playing on it. We’ll see if Smart can go in Game 4, which has become as close to a must-win for the Celtics as it gets.
Update: Smart was running around in the tunnel and appeared to jog back to the floor. He eventually checked back into the game. It’s an ankle sprain for Smart, but he’s back in the contest.
Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart exited Game 3 against the Miami Heat after appearing to suffer a serious ankle injury in the third quarter going for a rebound. Smart already missed Game 1 of this series and has a history of leg/foot issues this postseason.
Now Marcus Smart being helped to the locker room.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 22, 2022
Smart immediately went to the ground and held his ankle while screaming for assistance. He was helped to the locker room by two trainers, and it doesn’t seem like he will return to this contest. This game has seen several injuries, with the Heat losing Jimmy Butler due to knee inflammation and Kyle Lowry powering through a hamstring injury.
The Celtics will lean on Derrick White and Payton Pritchard at the point guard spot for the rest of this contest as they attempt to climb back from a double-digit deficit. We’ll see what the extent of Smart’s injury is, but the Celtics likely have to get this done without him.