Celtics’ Marcus Smart downgraded to OUT vs Raps; Pritchard to start?

Smart will have the night off to nurse a sprained thumb.

It’s more than a little thin on the Boston Celtics wing right now as they face the Toronto Raptors in their temporary Tampa home arena.

The team will sit guard veteran guard Marcus Smart with a sprained thumb after originally listing the guard as questionable, and with starting point guard Kemba Walker (knee), reserve guard Jeff Teague (ankle) and wing Romeo Langford (wrist) all unavailable, it seems likely rookie Payton Pritchard will get the first start of his career before it hits the one month mark. Two way floor general Tremont Waters will likely also see the floor for considerable minutes.

Expect both of Boston’s star wings of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum doing much of the heavy lifting with regards to playmaking as well, the latter fresh off a career-high 12 assists in Sunday’s road win over the Detroit Pistons.

We’re just minutes away from tipoff, so there isn’t much waiting to learn the lineup Stevens goes with, but whoever gets the nod, there will be much young blood manning the point this evening for the Celtics.

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