Both Marcus Smart and Al Horford have been sidelined for Game 1 of the Boston Celtics' East Finals series against the Miami Heat, and based on Ime Udoka's latest comments, their statuses for the next match remain questionable at best.
While there is nothing concrete yet on whether Smart and Horford will be available for Game 2, the Celtics coach did provide some mixed updates on their recovery and current condition.
Smart is dealing with a foot sprain he suffered in Game 7 against the Milwaukee Bucks, and according to Udoka, the “soreness was too much” for him to handle. He has limited mobility, forcing him to sit out Tuesday's game.
The Celtics will have more information on his availability on Wednesday after Marcus Smart gets some treatment and rest, per Jay King of The Athletic.
Ime Udoka said Marcus Smart’s “soreness was too much” and he had some limited mobility with basketball movements. They’ll see how he feels tomorrow after some more treatment and time off.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) May 17, 2022




As for Al Horford, Ime Udoka is not yet ruling him out for Game 2 of the series despite entering the health and safety protocols. While there is only a one-day gap between the first two games of the series, the Celtics tactician highlighted that the league's policy when dealing with COVID-19 cases is different now compared to before.
Still, the Celtics cannot be too complacent and should instead expect and prepare for the worst outcome given the situation.
Ime Udoka said "it's not definite" that Al Horford will miss through Game 2. Cited the protocols being different than earlier this season.
Udoka also said he's "honestly unsure" if any other members are the Celtics are considered close contacts or at risk of missing time.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 17, 2022
Of course there is still the possibility of Smart and Horford suiting up in Game 2, which should be a massive boost for Boston. However, they can only focus on the task at hand and make full use of what they have amid the uncertainties surrounding two of their key players.