Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart missed Tuesday's Game 2 clash against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a right thigh contusion.
Smart sustained the injury late in the second quarter of the previous contest but returned for the second half. However, the Defensive Player of the Year looked compromised at times, shooting just 3-of-11 from the field in 33 minutes of action.
Derrick White started in Smart's place Tuesday. Despite missing their award-winning defender, the Celtics defeated the Bucks 108-86 to even up their Eastern Conference semifinal series at one game apiece.
While Smart is dealing with "swelling, pain, and restricted movement," Celtics head coach Ime Udoka is hopeful the guard will be back for Game 3 on Saturday, the bench boss told reporters before Game 2's tipoff, including The Athletic's Jay King.
Smart has been an instrumental figure on both ends of the floor for the Celtics throughout the 2021-22 campaign. He's averaging 15.2 points, 6.8 assists, 3.4 boards, and 1.4 steals over five postseason appearances.
