Marcus Smart sprains right ankle vs. Suns

It’s been a reoccurring theme for the Boston Celtics this season and it happened again in the 99-85 win over the Phoenix Suns Monday night when another prominent member of the team got injured.

With 9:12 to go in the fourth quarter, Marcus Smart suffered a right ankle sprain while defending a baseline drive by Devin Booker. Smart clearly rolls his ankle while trying to stay with Booker and immediately falls to the floor. Smart hobbled off the court, but did not return.

After the game, Celtics coach Brad Stevens did not seem concerned with the overall severity of Smart’s injury and Smart will be re-evaluated Tuesday to determine when he might be able to play again.

Smart cut to the chase, though, talking with reporters as well after the game.

“Everything’s OK. I should be fine to play the rest of this road trip,” Smart said. “It’s just re-irritated from the last ankle injury I had, but I’m OK. If there was a game tomorrow, I definitely would have played, for sure. But we’d rather be safe than sorry and because it’s so early on in the season we don’t want to risk anything. Got a day off, use it, get the treatment I need and be ready for the next game.”

Stevens didn’t rule out Smart for Boston’s matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday and the veteran guard was seen at his locker in the postgame with his ankle unwrapped.

Smart ended the contest against the Suns with 17 points on 5-for-12 shooting to go along with four assists and three rebounds.