The Boston Celtics have been shorthanded for well over a month, but for Wednesday night's pivotal Game 5 against the Milwaukee Bucks, they'll get at least one guy back. According to head coach Brad Stevens, Celtics' guard Marcus Smart will return to the lineup after missing about a month with a hand injury.
#NEBHInjuryReport: Brad Stevens says that Marcus Smart felt "great" during shootaround and 2-on-2 work, and if he doesn't have any residual effects, he'll be available tonight.
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 24, 2018
Smart underwent surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb in the middle of March, and was expected to miss the remainder of the regular season. However, already without stars Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving, Smart was determined to return sometime during the Celtics' first round series against the Bucks.
The fourth year guard out of Oklahoma State University will likely be limited in his return, and may even have trouble finding his rhythm as well as his role in the rotation. Stevens, however, has proved to be a coaching savant and will likely have no trouble finding ways to make Smart as effective as possible in what is likely be a must-win game for Boston. Should they fall tonight, the Celtics will face a tough, uphill battle in Game 6 back in Milwaukee just to force a Game 7. The Celtics boasted the 10th best home record in the regular season at 27-14, and they've also gone 2-0 so far at home in the postseason.
Smart is averaging 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game for the Celtics this year, but is only shooting 36.7 percent from the field and 30.1 percent from beyond the arc.
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