Celtics guard Marcus Smart is looking to make his return during his team’s first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks. Smart has missed time after having surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right thumb back in March.
Ahead of Sunday’s Game 4 against the Bucks, Smart acknowledged that the surgery went well, and following a re-evaluation of his thumb on Tuesday, he could see his way back to the action sooner rather than later.
Following from Chris Forsberg of ESPN,
“Right now, [a Game 6 return is] the plan and we’re still on the same track,” Smart said before Game 4 on Sunday. “I’ve been doing everything but contact, so I will be able to go and start that.”
Smart said he believes the thumb is ready for contact.
“The surgery did its job,” said Smart, who injured himself March 11 while diving for a loose ball in a game against the Indiana Pacers. “Thumb is holding up well. I feel ready, I feel strong enough to get back out there. I’m just waiting on the OK.”
The Celtics have fared exceptionally well without Smart against the Bucks in the opening round of the playoffs. With a 2-1 series lead, Boston has controlled much of the series with disciplined defense and steady offense from rookie Jayson Tatum, veteran Al Horford, second-year player Jaylen Brown, and point guard Terry Rozier.
A possible Smart return, while his team is still involved in a competitive series, can help Smart regain some footing after missing so many games. His presence on defense will also provide quite the challenge for the Bucks as well.
As far as his offense is concerned, Smart is confident that his hand won’t be a hindrance to his performance on that end.
“Actually [the splint and tape is] real comfortable. It feels like nothing’s there,” Smart said. “To have that comfortability, especially in my dominant hand, my shooting hand, that’s a good feeling to have.”
