Celtics Starter Questionable for Game 2 Against Sixers

The Celtics enter Game 2 vs. the Sixers with their back against the wall, where they seem more comfortable.

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The Celtics of this era don't like to make it easy on themselves, so perhaps their Game 1 loss at home to a Sixers team missing Joel Embiid should have been more predictable.

Either way, they've put less pressure on Philadelphia's star center to return for Wednesday's matchup, and he likely won't make his series debut until Game 3 in the City of Brotherly Love.

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Boston already bought him more time to rest and rehab the LCL sprain in his right knee by not efficiently closing out the Hawks, dropping Game 5 on the TD Garden parquet to an Atlanta team missing Dejounte Murray, who bumped a ref in the previous contest, resulting in a one-game suspension.

Embiid only has to help his team get three more wins, and the extra time the Celtics have afforded the six-time All-Star doesn't hurt the chance he makes that happen.

But while the former Kansas Jayhawk's absence dulled the hosts' competitive edge, and they didn't play with the same fire on Monday they demonstrated in Game 6 against the Hawks to close out their first-round series, Boston enters Wednesday's tilt with its back against the wall, where it seems more comfortable.

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After dropping Game 1, the Celtics have spoken about the need to send a message on Wednesday. They've also addressed the need to win on the margins after committing twice as many turnovers as the Sixers, leading to the latter manufacturing seven more points off giveaways. The hosts also took 12 fewer threes and made seven less than their division rival.

But Boston may have to accomplish that and even the series without starting point guard Marcus Smart. The Celtics' floor general is listed as questionable on their injury report ahead of Game 2 due to a chest contusion.

Smart registered 12 points and seven assists in Monday's loss, leading all participants in the latter, but also committed six turnovers, the most giveaways from anyone on either team in the series opener.

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While he, like the rest of the team, can and must play much better the rest of this best-of-seven, Boston would much rather have Smart available than lose its most-trusted point-of-attack defender.

Game 2 tips at 8:00 p.m. EST. Inside The Celtics will have content related to the matchup before, during, and afterward. And follow @BobbyKrivitsky on Twitter for updates and analysis from pregame to post. 

Further Reading

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Game Mismanagement Leading to Losing on the Margins and a Series-Opening Defeat to Sixers

Celtics Address Letting Guard Down in Game 1 Loss to Sixers Team Missing Joel Embiid

Jayson Tatum Reflects on Game 1 Loss to Philadelphia 76ers

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 1 Loss vs. Sixers: The Perplexing Defeats Have Become More Predictable

Jaylen Brown Discusses Celtics and Sixers Rivalry, Bill Russell's Legacy

Here's What We Know About the Celtics-Sixers Second-Round Schedule