BOSTON — The Celtics will have to contain the backcourt combination of John Wall and Bradley Beal without the services of one of their best defenders.
Point guard Marcus Smart won’t play Friday night against the Washington Wizards, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said before the game. Smart sprained his left big toe earlier in the week and missed Wednesday’s game against the Indiana Pacers.
Smart arrived at TD Garden on Friday wearing a walking boot, per CSN New England’s Abby Chin. The injury doesn’t appear too serious, but it seems Stevens doesn’t want to push it.
“It’s day to day,” Stevens said. “The bottom line is, the ultimate factor in deciding whether he can play or not is, ‘can he push off of (the foot)?’ He couldn’t push off of it at all on Wednesday; he’s pushing off of it much better now, but there’s no reason to put extra stress on it by walking without a boot. So, the boot is a conservative measure to make sure he doesn’t put any extra weight on it as it’s healing.”
Boston will employ the same starting five it did against Indiana: Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Jared Sullinger and Amir Johnson.
It’s a good sign Johnson is back in the lineup after he tweaked his ankle against the Pacers.
Thumbnail photo via Mark L. Baer/USA TODAY Sports Images
