Marcus Smart, who has played in 38 of the Celtics’ 41 games this season, could miss their matchup Wednesday against the Pacers with a thigh injury. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press
The Celtics may be shorthanded in the backcourt for their rematch with the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night. Marcus Smart was listed as doubtful on the team’s injury report after suffering a right thigh contusion during Monday’s win over the Pacers.
Smart has been one of Boston’s most reliable contributors this season, playing in 38 of the team’s 41 games so far while averaging a career-high 34.1 minutes per game. He missed the fourth quarter and overtime Monday after suffering a thigh injury on a defensive possession in the third quarter.
“It tightened up,” Celtics Coach Ime Udoka said of the injury. “He felt OK initially when he went to the bench, and tried to go in the back and loosen it up, and it actually swelled up and tightened up quicker than he thought so wasn’t able to go, pain tolerance probably but also some swelling,”
With Smart unlikely to play, a bigger opportunity could be waiting for Dennis Schroder in the backcourt as a fill-in point guard. Udoka could also be getting some other reinforcements in the backcourt as well with Payton Pritchard also upgraded to questionable. The reserve guard has been in NBA health and safety protocols for Boston’s last four games. A spot in the rotation for him could be back available on Wednesday night with Smart expected out.
WIZARDS: Bradley Beal is out for Washington’s game against Oklahoma City after entering health and safety protocols for the second time in less than three weeks.
Beal entered the protocols Dec. 23 and returned after a week. He said then that he didn’t have COVID-19 and the absence was due to contact tracing.
Beal, who missed a chance to play in the Olympics last year after testing positive, was unvaccinated when the season began. When he returned late last month, he said he’d always kept an open mind about receiving the vaccine and decided to do so for family reasons.
Coach Wes Unseld Jr. said he thought a test from Monday was flagged, but he didn’t want to say with certainty. He said Beal would need two consecutive negative tests to exit protocol.
The Wizards play again Wednesday night, at home against Orlando.
CAVALIERS: General Manager Koby Altman has been rewarded for the team’s turnaround with a contract extension and new job title, a person familiar with Cleveland’s plans told the Associated Press.
Altman, who has re-shaped the Cavs’ roster and moved them back into playoff contention, has agreed to the extension through the 2027-28 season, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not made the deal official.
Altman will also assume the new title of president of basketball operations, the person said. The team is expected to announce the deal Wednesday.
TUESDAY’S GAMES
WIZARDS 122, THUNDER 118: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 30.8 seconds remaining and host Washington beat Oklahoma City despite being without star Bradley Beal because of health and safety protocols.
The Thunder lost their fifth straight game, and the key possession came with about a half-minute to play and the score tied at 118. The Wizards worked the shot clock down, and Caldwell-Pope’s attempt from the right wing went in off the glass. He responded by holding both arms out, apparently in relief, disbelief or both.
Luguentz Dort missed everything on a 3 at the other end, and Kyle Kuzma made a free throw with 13.3 seconds left.
SUNS 99, RAPTORS 95: Devin Booker scored 16 points, including the go-ahead basket with 1:02 remaining, and Chris Paul had 15 points and 12 assists as Phoenix beat won in Toronto to snap the Raptors’ longest winning streak of the season at six games.
Jae Crowder scored 19 points, Deandre Ayton had 16 and Mikal Bridges added 12 as the Suns improved to 31-9, matching the franchise’s best record through 40 games.
OG Anunoby scored 25 points, Pascal Siakam had 22 and Fred VanVleet added 21 for the Raptors, who lost for the first time since Dec. 28 against Philadelphia.
Chris Boucher had 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Raptors, who played without injured starters Scottie Barnes and Gary Trent Jr.
BULLS 133, PISTONS 87: Nikola Vučević scored 22 points, DeMar DeRozan had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Chicago routed visiting Detroit .
DeRozan sat for most of the final 16 minutes but still added seven assists. Eastern Conference-leading Chicago won after its season-best nine-game winning streak ended Sunday in Dallas.
Josh Jackson scored 16 points and Saddiq Bey added 14 for the Pistons, who had won two straight.
GRIZZLIES 116, WARRIORS 108: Ja Morant scored 29 points, including five in the final minute, and Memphis won at home for its 10th straight win.
Ziaire Williams and Tyus Jones had 17 points each for Memphis. Jones keyed a fourth-quarter rally that put the Grizzlies ahead for good. He finished 6 for 8 from the field, including connecting on all five of his 3-point attempts.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 27 points, while Klay Thompson finished with 14 points. Andrew Wiggins and Gary Payton II scored 13 each.
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