Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart will undergo surgery on his injured thumb, Friday and is expected to be out six to eight weeks, the team confirmed.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Smart could potentially return for the playoffs, which begin April 22. Based on the team's timeline, Smart could be back shortly after the postseason begins.
Smart, a key rotation player, hurt his right thumb while scrambling for a loose ball during a game against the Indiana Pacers on March 11.
The injury was part of a torrent of bad news for the Celtics. Kyrie Irving (knee) and Al Horford (illness) have missed games, and Jaylen Brown is working his way through the NBA’s concussion protocol after a falling on his back and neck after a dunk.
Celtics guard Marcus Smart will undergo surgery on his thumb today, but there hope he can return sometime in the playoffs, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 16, 2018
Meanwhile, center Daniel Theis, who was earlier ruled out for the season, underwent successful surgery to repair the lateral meniscus in his left knee, the team said in a release Thursday.
Smart, a defensive stalwart, injured the same hand in January when he swiped in frustration at a picture frame in a hotel room.
