PHILADELPHIA -- The Celtics were hurting after their 107-93 loss at Philadelphia - and we’re not just talking about the final score.
Starting center Enes Kanter left the Celtics locker room afterward with a noticeable limp following the season-opening loss.
Kanter, who got the starting nod after coming off the bench in the preseason, finished with 12 points and six rebounds.
More important was the job he did defensively on Philly’s Joel Embiid, who finished with a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds.
“Kanter was great,” Stevens said. “He’s a little banged up. Obviously not good for us. But I thought he was great. He did a really good job in isolation [defensively] and allowed us to not always have to double.”
It is unclear if the discomfort Kanter felt after the game will keep him out of the lineup for the home opener on Friday against the defending NBA champion Toronto Raptors.
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Kanter’s pain was noticeable by all who witnessed him limp out of the locker room toward the team bus.
Not quite as visible was the pain that Marcus Smart was dealing with after taking an elbow to the throat.
Smart said his windpipe was strained on the play, but added that it doesn’t appear as though there will be any long-term damage.
“The voice will go back to normal in a few days,” Smart told NBC Sports Boston. “Just ice it; keep taking anti-inflammatories to help the swelling.”
Smart added, “It feels like I have strep throat; that’s how bad it hurts. But I’ve had worse [injuries].”
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