Marcus Smart available for Game 2 vs. Heat with foot injury

May 19 update: Smart was listed as probable and now he’s officially cleared to play in Game 2. With Derrick White out for personal reasons, Smart is going to play heavy minutes in this colossal game for the Celtics. Boston will hope to get a split before heading back home for Games 3 and 4.

May 18 update: Smart is listed as probable for Game 2 after missing Game 1 with a foot sprain, so the Celtics will likely get the current Defensive Player of the Year back for a pivotal contest.

Update — Smart and Al Horford have been ruled out for Game 1 vs. the Heat on Tuesday night. Horford has been placed into health and safety protocols.

The Boston Celtics have listed Marcus Smart as questionable for Game 1 of the Eastern conference finals against the Miami Heat with a foot injury. Smart has dealt with several injuries this postseason, even missing some time with a quad issue. He appeared to suffer a groin injury at the end of Game 7 against the Milwaukee Bucks and was able to get some rest with the game in hand by that point.

The current Defensive Player of the Year has been important for the Celtics on that side of the floor, establishing a physicality on the perimeter which has allowed Boston to clamp down on opponents. Smart’s versatility has also enabled the Celtics to switch things on matchups, allowing for more fluidity defensively. The guard’s shot is still inconsistent, but he can deliver decent production offensively on any given night.

If Smart doesn’t play, look for Derrick White and Payton Pritchard to get most of the backcourt minutes for Boston.