Zora Stephenson breaks down how the Bucks ‘series-long goal’ of playing physical on defense led to their success against the Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
BOSTON -- The Celtics will have to beat the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night without their starting point guard and best defender.
Marcus Smart has been ruled out for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden with a right quad contusion, the team announced.
Celtics-Bucks: Three keys to a bounce-back C's victory in Game 2
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Boston sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Smart was listed as questionable due to the injury he suffered in Boston's 101-89 Game 1 loss on Sunday. Head coach Ime Udoka noted Monday that Smart's quad injury was "pretty bad," and that he took a couple shots to his right quad during Game 1 -- including one on a play in which he appeared to injure his right shoulder.
That shoulder injury was nothing more than a "stinger," per Udoka, and the head coach said Tuesday he doesn't believe Smart's quad ailment will be a long-term issue with several days off before Game 3 in Milwaukee on Saturday.
Still, Smart missing Game 2 is a serious setback for Boston. The longest-tenured Celtic led the team in assists this season at 5.9 per game and was just named Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts on that end.
Derrick White will start in Smart's place in Game 2 and will be called upon to fill some of Smart's playmaking and defensive abilities.
Boston Celtics
Find the latest Boston Celtics news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Boston.
"I think he does a lot of things well," Udoka said Tuesday of White. "Obviously it's hard to make up for Marcus, specifically with what he does for our team, but the scheme and coverage doesn't change.
"Derrick is another big guard who brings a lot in terms of size and versatility defensively, and then offensively is very capable of scoring, running plays and getting guys involved."
Game 2 at TD Garden tips off at 7 p.m. ET with NBC Sports Boston's beginning at 6 p.m. ET with "Celtics Pregame Live."
