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  4. title => "Stevens on Smart's return: 'Hopefully in a couple weeks'"
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  6. article_body => "<p>MEXICO CITY \u2013 Marcus Smart recently received a second opinion on his left knee injury that will keep him sidelined for at least another couple of weeks.<\/p>\n<p>The Celtics were hopeful that injury, suffered in the fourth quarter of Boston\u2019s 120-95 win over Brooklyn on Nov. 20, would only keep him sidelined for two weeks.<\/p>\n<p>However, a league source told CSNNE.com at the time that there was an initial concern that the injury was worse than the initial tests.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLuckily it's a few weeks versus a few months,\u201d the source told CSNNE.com.<\/p>\n<p>Head coach Brad Stevens gave an update on Smart\u2019s injury prior to Thursday night\u2019s game against Sacramento.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThree weeks away from the injury would still be very aggressive,\u201d Stevens said. \u201cI don\u2019t see him playing anytime in the near future. Hopefully in a couple weeks he can rejoin us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Smart has appeared in nine games this season for Boston (10-8), missing three with a left big toe injury and the last six with his lower left leg injury.<\/p>\n<p>There is no question the Celtics miss Smart\u2019s presence, with his absence having a noticeable impact on Boston\u2019s second unit.<\/p>\n<p>With Smart out, that has meant Boston has had at least one starter \u2013 Isaiah Thomas or Avery Bradley \u2013 with the first unit who would otherwise be providing a scoring punch off the bench.<\/p>\n<p>When Smart was in the starting lineup, Boston had the highest-scoring bench in the NBA. In the last six games he has been out, Boston\u2019s reserves rank 22nd in the league with a 29.7 points per game average. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In nine games, Smart has averaged 9.8 points, 3.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds while playing 29.1 minutes per game.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n"
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Celtics

Celtics

MEXICO CITY – Marcus Smart recently received a second opinion on his left knee injury that will keep him sidelined for at least another couple of weeks.

The Celtics were hopeful that injury, suffered in the fourth quarter of Boston’s 120-95 win over Brooklyn on Nov. 20, would only keep him sidelined for two weeks.

However, a league source told CSNNE.com at the time that there was an initial concern that the injury was worse than the initial tests.

“Luckily it's a few weeks versus a few months,” the source told CSNNE.com.

Head coach Brad Stevens gave an update on Smart’s injury prior to Thursday night’s game against Sacramento.

“Three weeks away from the injury would still be very aggressive,” Stevens said. “I don’t see him playing anytime in the near future. Hopefully in a couple weeks he can rejoin us.”

Smart has appeared in nine games this season for Boston (10-8), missing three with a left big toe injury and the last six with his lower left leg injury.

There is no question the Celtics miss Smart’s presence, with his absence having a noticeable impact on Boston’s second unit.

With Smart out, that has meant Boston has had at least one starter – Isaiah Thomas or Avery Bradley – with the first unit who would otherwise be providing a scoring punch off the bench.

When Smart was in the starting lineup, Boston had the highest-scoring bench in the NBA. In the last six games he has been out, Boston’s reserves rank 22nd in the league with a 29.7 points per game average.  

 

In nine games, Smart has averaged 9.8 points, 3.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds while playing 29.1 minutes per game.