Source: C’s Smart (oblique) could miss 2 rounds

4:02 pm | April 10, 2019 | Go to Source | Author:

7:49 PM ET

Adrian WojnarowskiESPN

In a significant blow to the Boston Celtics‘ hopes of a long playoff run, guard Marcus Smart has suffered a torn left oblique and could miss the opening two rounds of the Eastern Conference playoffs, a league source told ESPN.

Smart has played a tantamount role for the Celtics this season, and a difficult pathway to emerge out of the East only becomes more difficult with the guard’s loss.

Smart was injured in a home loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday.

Smart, 25, has averaged 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and four assists, but his defense and grittiness separates him, especially in the playoffs.

Boston will play the Indiana Pacers in a best-of-seven first-round series.

After chasing Evan Fournier down the lane on Sunday, Smart was injured when he bumped into Magic center Nikola Vucevic and crashed to the ground, holding his side.

Boston eventually called a timeout, and Smart limped to the bench — only to convince the training staff that he was all right and could stay in the game. But after the Celtics had the ball for one offensive possession — on which Smart was clearly moving gingerly — Smart called for the bench to replace him as he limped back on defense before falling to the ground, holding his side.

“He felt like it was spasming on that second trip down the court,” Boston coach Brad Stevens said after Sunday’s game.

Smart would eventually get to his feet and hobble to the locker room with help from the trainers.

Information from ESPN’s Tim Bontemps was used in this report.