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Both Al Horford and Marcus Smart will be out of action in the first game of the Eastern Conference finals.
Boston will not count. with two starters for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, with Al Horford entering the NBA’s health and safety protocols and Marcus Smart will not be able to play. play because of a midfoot sprain.
The Celtics announced those updates Tuesday afternoon, about three hours before Game 1 of the series >against the Miami Heat.
Smart was injured during the game. the foot on Sunday, in Game 7 of Boston’s East semifinal victory over Milwaukee. It had been listed as questionable earlier in the day, though Celtics coach Ime Udoka warned against it. after the team’s morning practice that the league’s Defensive Player of the Year was still dealing with considerable pain. to Boston’s lineup dilemma. The veteran forward averaged . 13.0 points and a team-best 10.4 rebounds in the Celtics’ seven-game victory over Milwaukee, starting all of those games. in six of seven games against Milwaukee. It was lost. He left Game 2 due to a quad injury.
Miami previously ruled out point guard Kyle Lowry for Game 1 due to a hamstring injury. n of the hamstring.