Marcus Smart To Miss Time With Leg Injury

The Boston Celtics announced Saturday that Marcus Smart (lower left leg injury) will not accompany the team on its upcoming two-game road trip to Brooklyn and Atlanta.

Coach Brad Stevens says Sunday that the second-year guard won’t need surgery and the injury isn’t considered a long-term problem, but that doctors want to make sure he’s fully healed before returning. With Smart out and Turner potentially limited, Rozier, Young and R.J. Hunter may see an increase in playing time.

His team tweeted in the fourth quarter, “Marcus Smart has been diagnosed with a bruised left knee”.

Despite Smart’s injury, the Celtics ended up beating the Nets 120-95.

The Celtics are not scheduled to practice on Saturday and are planning to leave for Sunday’s rematch with the Nets in Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon.

Smart, who battled ankle injuries last season, has already missed three games this season due to a toe injury.

Avery Bradley will take over for Smart in the starting lineup.