Whether you believe in “load management” or not, sometimes you just need some time to heal, and Boston Celtics shooting guard Marcus Smart has probably reached that point.
After going 0-for-6 in 20 minutes of play against the New York Knicks, Smart tried to get in front of Knicks forward Kevin Knox to take a charge, and fell to the ground, writhing in evident pain.
Moments later, the team announced the former Cowboy had been struck in the abdomen and would not return to the game. Knox struck the Texan close to the obliques, which he hurt and missed significant time last season.
Marcus Smart just headed to the locker room after taking an elbow to his oblique area pic.twitter.com/L5BA3GP5yK
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 1, 2019
After the game, head coach Brad Stevens shed a little more light on the situation, saying (via NESN’s Logan Mullen),
“The only thing I heard is that it was — I don’t know if it was his oblique or right in that area — and they said it wasn’t as bad as in the past, so I don’t know what that means … I’m sure we’ll get more information in the next couple hours.”
Smart, who had already taken a hard hit to the face earlier in the game, explained to NBC Boston’s Abby Chin on his way out of the arena that the elbow he too to the gut from Knox connected with the very same spot he injured his obliques last season.
Already banged up from a litany of minor injuries which tend to pop up from his high-octane style of defense, the Flower Mound native may have to rest against the Miami Heat next Wednesday, Dec. 4 if his ardent approach the game has forced the issue on the defensive whirlwind.
Caught Marcus Smart walking out of MSG. Said he got hit in the same, exact spot where he tore his left oblique last season. Was still in pain. Plans to get more info tomorrow. His eye was fine.
— Abby Chin (@tvabby) December 1, 2019
With two days to recover, if the injury is mild, it’s still possible the Oklahoma State product could return to action. It’s also possible Smart will need more time to recover given how close it was to last season’s injury, requiring a multi-week recovery.
The six-year veteran will be evaluated on Monday, and hopefully we will have a clearer picture of his status going forward.