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Anybody else still holding their breath? Here's what we know so far:
Marcus Smart suffered a left ankle injury during the fourth quarter tonight against Indiana. He will have an MRI later this evening.
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 8, 2014
Marcus Smart, still in his #Celtics uniform and with a boot over his left leg, is being wheeled from arena by trainer Ed Lacerte
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) November 8, 2014
Marcus Smart's X-Rays came back negative, sources told ESPN. However, set to have MRI on injured ankle later tonight.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) November 8, 2014
Hearing that the Smart X-rays were negative and the injury looked worse that it really was. But still significant. #celtics
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) November 8, 2014
Source say it's likely Celt doc Brian McKeon won't read Smart's MRI until morning.
— Steve Bulpett (@SteveBHoop) November 8, 2014
Update on #Celtics Marcus Smart ... nothing torn, bad sprain. More details to come shortly. #Celticstalk
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@SherrodbCSN) November 8, 2014
At his presser, Stevens sounded cautiously optimistic and said, "I've seen some (brutal) injuries in my time... It doesn't sound like it from the early indications." It sounds like the rookie and the team may have dodged a bullet here, but we won't know definitely until tomorrow. This is just a wild guess, but it looks like we're talking about either a grade 2 or grade 3 sprain and I doubt we see Marcus before Christmas. That's about 20+ games he'll miss, but it could certainly be worse. Get well, kid.
UPDATE:
Preliminary results show a sprain for Smart. Expect him to be out two weeks, maybe longer depending on how cautiously Celts proceed.
— Steve Bulpett (@SteveBHoop) November 8, 2014
Much of how soon Smart can get back will be determined by swelling in the ankle over the next day or two.
— Steve Bulpett (@SteveBHoop) November 8, 2014
Surprise and relief being expressed up here at 30,000 feet that it's "just a sprain". Marcus Smart could be back before the end of November.
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) November 8, 2014
Phew. I knew this kid was tough, but if it really is only two weeks (even if it's three weeks, that's only eight games), Marcus Smart is Wolverine tough.
On the Rondo front:
Rajon Rondo will not accompany the team to Chicago. He will have a screw removed from his surgically repaired left hand this weekend.
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 8, 2014
The uncertainty with Smart's injury is understandable, but this came out of the blue. After tomorrow's game in Chicago, the team doesn't play until Wednesday night back in Boston. Why not get the screw taken out on Sunday? To date, it was Rondo's worse game statistically. Was it bothering him during the game today? Why did he sit over nine minutes of a very close fourth quarter? I went back and watched the few plays before he was pulled in favor of Phil Pressey and I didn't see Rondo favor his left hand at all.
UPDATE #2:
Smart diagnosed with sprain and bone bruise. According to Ainge initial estimate is that he'll miss two to three weeks.
— Mark Murphy (@Murf56) November 8, 2014
Rondo successfully had screws removed from left hand this morning. Expected to be available for Wednesday's game against OKC.
— Mark Murphy (@Murf56) November 8, 2014
Here's the official word from the Celtics:
The Boston Celtics announced today that Celtics guard Rajon Rondo underwent a successful procedure to remove the screws from his surgically repaired left hand. The surgery was performed by Celtics Team Physician Dr. Brian McKeon and was assisted by Dr. Hervey Kimball at New England Baptist Hospital this morning. He is out for tonight's game against Chicago, but is expected to be available vs. Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
Additionally, Celtics guard Marcus Smart underwent an MRI last night at New England Baptist Hospital and results confirmed a left ankle sprain with bone bruising. He is expected to be out for the next two to three weeks.
Double phew.