The Boston Celtics say guard Marcus Smart likely escaped serious injury when he suffered dislocations to his right index and middle fingers during Thursday's summer league game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Las Vegas.
The Celtics said Smart's initial X-rays were negative and that it appeared Smart would be OK, an assessment Smart shared via Twitter.
Thanks to everyone for the prayers thanks to the staff for all that they did to help just a minor set back for major comeback
— marcus smart (@smart_MS3) July 17, 2015Smart suffered the injury while chasing a rebound and was in obvious pain on the court.
"They just said dislocation," Celtics assistant coach Micah Shrewsberry, who is coaching the summer league team, told reporters, according to the Boston Herald. "They're just going to send [the X-rays] back to Boston and let our doctors take a look and just confirm what they saw here."
The No. 6 pick in the 2014 draft, Smart had been a bright spot for Boston's summer squads in Utah and Vegas, showing improved ability to operate from the point guard position.
"When you first hear screams, it's not always the best feeling in the world," Shrewsberry said, according to the Herald. "He'll be OK. He's in good spirits in the locker room. He's got the pictures on his phone. He was joking with the guys, showing it to them. And just like the warrior that he is, he comes back out to the bench and is leading the cheers and talking on defense."
Smart projects as Boston's starting point guard next season.
Information from ESPNBoston.com's Chris Forsberg was used in this report.
