Al Horford cleared to return for Celtics; Marcus Smart expected back, but Boston without Derrick White for Game 2 vs. Heat
The Boston Celtics found themselves with NBA playoff math working in their favor Thursday.
Although guard Derrick White left the team for the birth of his child, the Celtics got guard Marcus Smart and big man Al Horford back in their mix for Thursday night’s game against the Miami Heat at FTX Arena.
Smart, who missed the Celtics’ Game 1 loss in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday due to a mid-foot sprain, was back on the court at Thursday morning’s shootaround.
Horford, who had entered NBA health-and-safety protocols hours before Tuesday’s series opener, cleared protocols midafternoon, after earlier in the day being upgraded to questionable on the league’s injury report.
White, who had started Tuesday in place of Smart, is expected back for Saturday night’s Game 3 of the best-of-seven series at TD Garden.
“It came sooner than expected,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said of White’s plans, “but we support our guys always in that situation.”
The Celtics acquired White at midseason from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for former Heat guard Josh Richardson.
With Horford, it was a waiting game from the outset.
“He was not feeling ill,” Udoka said Thursday of Horford. “He’s feeling fine. He’s OK. It’s something that was unexpected.”
Udoka had been away from the team on Wednesday due to a non-COVID illness. He said Thursday he is “good now.”
Of Smart’s participation in Boston’s morning shootaround, Celtics forward Grant Williams said, “He looked good. Smart’s competitive as heck, so I always expect him, no matter if he’s hurt or injured, he’ll try to make an attempt.”
For the Heat, the injury report remained copacetic, with point guard Kyle Lowry in his second week of being sidelined by a hamstring strain.
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