Optimistic outlook after Celtics' Marcus Smart exits with scary looking ankle sprain

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The Celtics got a scare early in the fourth quarter of their 99-85 victory over the Suns in Phoenix on Monday night when Marcus Smart went down with a right ankle sprain. He eventually rose to his feet, limping, before heading back to the locker room with the assistance of the team’s medical staff. 

The injury occurred with 9:12 to play and the Celtics up by 17 and Smart didn't return.

After the game, Celtics coach Brad Stevens confirmed that Smart had a right ankle sprain but was optimistic about the injury, saying the ankle  “wasn’t swollen badly.”

“They’ll check it in the morning,” Stevens told reporters after the game and added, “it doesn’t look too bad.”

In his postgame comments, Smart said he was okay but he had aggravated the "exact same ankle injury I was coming back from." He added that he "should be fine to play the rest of the road trip."

Smart finished the night with 17 points to go with four assists, two steals and a blocked shot, not to mention being a key defender on Phoenix's high scoring guard Devin Booker. 

Booker came in averaging 42.5 points against Boston, but was limited to just 20 points Monday night.

The Celtics will need Smart on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George as well as high-scoring guard Lou Williams off the bench. 

Don’t miss NBC Sports Boston's coverage of Celtics-Clippers, which tips off Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET with Celtics Pregame Live, then Mike & Scal have the call of the game at 10 p.m. You can also stream the game through the MyTeams App.

Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.

 

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