Marcus Smart Injury: Danny Ainge Gives Update Before Celtics-Bucks Game 3

The Boston Celtics might soon become even tougher to play against.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge provided an update on Marcus Smart’s status Thursday, one day before Boston will face the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3 of the teams’ first-round playoff series. Smart has been sidelined with a thumb injury since mid-March.

“Marcus is at least a week away,” Ainge said on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher and Rich.” “He’s out on the court and he’s starting to run and he’s getting up shots — doing all that kind of stuff — but he’s probably at least a week away.”

Smart underwent surgery March 16 to repair a torn ligament in his thumb. So far, his absence hasn’t cost the Celtics against the Bucks, as Boston holds a 2-0 series lead going into Friday night’s game in Milwaukee. But Smart brings plenty to the table, and his return to the Celtics’ lineup will be a welcome addition, especially with Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward out for the playoffs.

“That’s not why we want him back — because he’s going to agitate. We want him back because he can play,” Ainge said. “He can guard the other team’s best players at multiple positions. He’s another ball-handler on the court for us — with size, that can switch the other team’s actions. But Marcus is just such a competitive guy, and he’s a strong, hard-nosed guy. That’s just part of who he is, but his talent level is missed.”

Smart revealed before Game 1 on Sunday that he was on track to return either for Game 7 of the first round or in the second round if the Celtics advance.