Celtics Officially to be Shorthanded Once Again When They Take on Suns on Friday Night

Boston will be without its starting point guard once again Friday

Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Celtics are set to take on the Phoenix Suns and will be shorthanded once again. 

Boston will be without the services of starting point guard Marcus Smart for the sixth straight game, according to the team's official injury report. 

#NEBHInjuryReport for tomorrow vs. Phoenix:

Danilo Gallinari (left knee ACL repair) - OUT
Marcus Smart (right ankle sprain) - OUT

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 2, 2023

Smart suffered a right ankle sprain early on when the Celtics on the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 21 and hasn't been able to return. Although he won't be in the lineup Friday night, it shouldn't be too long now as the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year has made progress.

Boston has won two straight games heading into Friday's clash with the Suns but still could use its floor general back in the lineup. The Celtics dropped three straight games after Smart suffered his ankle sprain, but have rebounded over the last two contests.

The Celtics will look to win their third straight contest when they welcome Phoenix to TD Garden. Boston already has taken down the Suns once this season on Dec. 7 in convincing fashion. The Celtics handily won the contest by 27 points and will look to do so again while riding the high of their most lopsided win of the season after taking took down the Brooklyn Nets by 43 points on Wednesday night.

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